Home invaders pose as police

Police chased the stolen get-away car until it crashed at high speed into a lamp-post. Picture / Frank Morris

Three men pretending they were police forced their way into a house, tying up eight people and holding them at gunpoint.

Dressed in body armour, helmets and dark clothing, the trio barged into the East Auckland home before 6.45am yesterday.

The Chinese occupants believed the men were police, said Detective Sergeant Graeme Fleming.

He understood "some shots" were fired. The intruders were disturbed when a neighbour heard noises and rang police.

The men fled when police turned up in Highland Park's Dalwhinnie Parade to investigate what they thought was a domestic incident.

A neighbour who raised the alarm said his wife was woken by a "tremendous crashing noise".

She went outside and a person on the street said three men had just forced their way into the house.

The resident, who did not want to be identified, said he went outside and heard "muted conversation" from inside the house, and "the odd shout of someone dominating the conversation".

Mr Fleming said the offenders "are in the address and see the police arriving. They panic, hop in their car and drive off".

Their Hyundai car - stolen from an Onehunga rental company - was briefly pursued by police until it crashed at high speed into a lamp-post.

The pole snapped on impact and the car stopped a few centimetres from the home of Frank and Ailsa Morris.

The couple were woken by a "god-almighty smash" and the sound of a roaring car engine, said Mrs Morris.

Mr Fleming said the men got out of the car and pointed a firearm at police, who retreated. The men fled along the side of the Morris' home, smashing through three fences to escape into Palm Crest Grove, discarding clothing as they ran.

Police set up cordons, called in armed police and used dogs to track them but the men were not found.

A single-barrel shotgun was found in bushes a few streets away.

Police were yesterday interviewing the eight people with the help of Mandarin translators. No property was taken from the house.

It was not known how long the occupants had been tied up before police responded to the 6.45am call.

St John Ambulance staff said one person at the address suffered moderate injuries from a reported assault and was taken to Middlemore Hospital.

Mr Fleming said the Hyundai was one of two vehicles that were seen leaving the address.

Police caught the driver of the other vehicle, a stolen ute, but had not linked him to the home invasion yesterday. He was charged with traffic offences.

One resident said the ute obstructed police as they drove to the house.