High-speed flight comes to abrupt end

The patrol car on Parnell Rd took the force of a speeding car, driven by a suspected burglar who'd led police on a high-speed chase around Auckland. Photo / Jason Dorday

A suspected burglar who drove over much of central Auckland in a bid to avoid police was finally stopped in Parnell - after crashing into a police car.

The blue Holden Commodore, believed to be stolen, was seen by witnesses leaving a burgled home in Remuera around 9am yesterday and was soon spotted at Wash World, across the road from the Westfield St Lukes shopping centre.

But as police tried to approach the car, the driver sped off and lost the chasing officers in traffic.

Soon after, he was spotted again, driving down Symonds St in central Auckland, then on Anzac Ave and Beach Rd where the police again chased him.

But the pursuit was abandoned after a few hundred metres at the bottom of Parnell Rise "due to the speed of the vehicle", and the high-powered car continued to flee towards Newmarket.

But the driver crossed the centre-line outside the Parnell Library on Parnell Rd and smashed into a stationary police car at about 9.35am.

Mel Pope, a stylist at Trelise Cooper on Parnell Rd, heard a "big crunch" and ran outside to see what had happened.

She said the man in the Commodore got out and "tried to do a runner" by going behind the Trelise Cooper shop and a veterinary practice next door.

"And the cop got out of the [patrol] car - even with an injured shoulder - and chased after him. That's dedication to the job for you."

Ms Pope said more patrol cars and a van with police dogs arrived on the scene to help.

"They caught the guy almost instantly. It was quite incredible how quickly they got there."

Police have arrested and charged a 34-year-old man with burglary and dangerous driving among other offences.

Ms Pope said it was lucky the roads were less busy than usual because of the holiday break, as someone could have been seriously hurt in normal Thursday morning traffic.