Eagle eye in the sky helps nab car thieves

Auckland car thieves tried to run but they could not hide from the police helicopter Eagle, which yesterday helped officers catch 10 people and recover four stolen vehicles.

Over 90 minutes, the helicopter guided staff as they chased the thieves in patrol cars and on foot with police dogs.

The first arrest took place after a service station worker rang 111 to say a car filling up with petrol appeared suspicious because it did not have an ignition barrel. It was spotted a short time later in Glen Innes, said Inspector Gavin Macdonald of the police northern communications centre.

Eagle hovered above as police surrounded the vehicle and arrested three people.

The helicopter was on hand again to follow two people who ditched a stolen car with a faulty wheel in Onehunga after failing to stop for police. They were caught by a police dog handler who gave chase.

"On to Avondale, where a police officer spotted a stolen vehicle at a petrol station that had been alerted to all units earlier on," said Mr Macdonald. "The offenders abandoned the vehicle and were soon arrested after being located a short distance from the scene."

The fourth stolen car was recovered after a 30-minute pursuit which began on the Maraetai Coast Rd and went through 100km/h zones until the car was stopped at Clevedon using road spikes.

Mr Macdonald said the arrests were a result of excellent police team work.