Early information about pharmacy intruder corrected

Police investigating the death of an intruder in a Mt Albert pharmacy this morning have corrected earlier mis-information about who found the man.

Auckland City Police Western Area Commander, Inspector Jim Wilson, says at no stage did a security guard see or confront an intruder or discover a body at the pharmacy.

"Our investigations this morning have revealed that the pharmacist was alerted at 4.30am by the security company, that the pharmacy's alarm had been activated," Mr Wilson says.

"The security guard confirmed by 'phone that there had been a break-in and waited outside the rear of the property for the owner to travel from the other side of the city.

"On arrival, both entered the pharmacy together and searched - we're told - for about 10 minutes, but didn't find anyone else on the property.

"At that stage, the security guard has left and the owner has stayed on to secure the premises.

"Shortly after that the owner has been confronted by an intruder and a struggle ensued, during which time he has called his wife and asked her to call Police.

"Police at NorthComms called the owner and advised they were on their way and arrived four or five minutes later.

On arrival, Police carried out CPR and called ambulance services. The intruder was pronounced dead a few minutes after 6am."

The intruder has not been identified and it's hoped his body will be removed from the scene today.

Death in pharmacy

Avondale CIB is investigating the death of a man in a Mt Albert pharmacy between 5 and 6 o'clock this morning.

Police were called to attend the scene at Great North Rd shortly before 5.30, where a man - yet to be formerly identified - was pronounced dead by ambulance staff just after 6 o'clock.

Western Area Commander, Inspector Jim Wilson, says the man's body will remain at the scene for most of the day before being removed for a post-mortem examination.

"We are investigating the circumstances of the death and are in the process of locating the man's next of kin.

"Police and ESR staff will carry out a scene examination today. We are speaking with the owner of the pharmacy who was alerted to a security breach of his property at about 4.30am by an alarm monitoring company."