KEY POINTS:
A suspected burglar managed to evade the police Eagle helicopter and a swarm of police officers in a manhunt that brought St Heliers to a standstill yesterday.
But police say they know who the man is and are confident they will get him eventually.
Sergeant Matt Hooper of Mt Wellington police said the hunted man and another man were allegedly seen breaking into a Rewiti St home in Orakei by someone who called police about 10.40am.
The pair had fled the scene, driving through red lights and stop signs in a bid to escape the helicopter, he said.
The pair abandoned the car, which police have also linked to another burglary in Avondale on Sunday, in a driveway off St Heliers Bay Rd before fleeing on foot.
One man was arrested near the waterfront. He was charged with two counts of burglary, one charge of possessing a P pipe and a holding charge of unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle, in case the car turned out to be stolen.
The helicopter hovered above and at least seven marked and unmarked patrol cars swooped on the area, acting as cordons as officers walked across shop rooftops and searched alleyways and toilets for the other suspect.
A laptop, allegedly stolen in the Orakei burglary, was found by police stashed under the bread shelf of Eden Foods supermarket.
Excited shopowners and customers stood in front of their stores wanting to know what the commotion was about in the affluent and usually very quiet, suburb.
"It's lovely," one woman said. "Men in uniform all over the place, and a helicopter."
