Police want to speak to the passenger in the stolen car. Photo / supplied
Police want to speak to the passenger in the stolen car. Photo / supplied
A man who beat an elderly Auckland couple unconscious and stole their car later used it to ram into another car with a young family inside, police say.
The man is being sought in relation to the two incidents that took place on Saturday night. Police also want to speak to a male passenger who was spotted in the stolen car during the second incident.
The elderly couple were seriously assaulted outside their Onehunga home around 9.30pm on Saturday.
After the woman pulled into the driveway of their Mt Smart Rd property, she was approached and verbally abused by the man. The noise attracted her husband's attention, and when he came outside the attacker beat him unconscious.
He then attacked his wife and she too was knocked unconscious, police said.
The man fled in the couple's car, and within an hour of the attack was spotted with a man in the passenger seat at the Z petrol station on the corner of Alfriston Rd and Great South Rd. The pair deliberately rammed another car, with a couple and their children inside.
The stolen car has yet to be found, police said, as they appealed for witnesses to either incident to come forward.
Police are still looking for the stolen vehicle, similar to this model.
"We're looking to identify the passenger. Whether he knows what has taken place an hour before is something we're obviously very keen to discuss with him and we'd ask anyone who might recognise him to contact us," Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Newman, of Auckland City Police said.
"We also need to speak to anyone who has seen this car. It could be dumped on the side of the road somewhere, or it could still be being driven.
"There are not huge numbers of these cars in this colour being driven across Auckland, and so if you've seen a car like this in recent days, particularly being driven in a reckless or suspicious manner, please let us know."
The car is a burnt-orange/brown coloured 2004 Toyota Vitz with the registration HYT799.
The elderly couple were both taken to hospital with suspected broken jaws following the assault. However, they escaped without fractures, but sustained severe bruising and black eyes. They are currently recovering at home.
The couple declined to talk to NZME. News Service earlier today, saying they were too traumatised by the incident to speak to media.
"They are a lovely couple and we are doing everything we can to support them," Mr Newman said.
"This was a very violent attack and we wish to reassure the community that we are fully committed to finding this offender as soon as possible, and we are following positive lines of enquiry."
* Anyone who sees the 2004 Toyota Vitz is asked to call 111 immediately. Information can also be provided to Auckland Central Crime Squad on 09 302 6557, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
