KEY POINTS:
A man who tried to evade police by sprinting away from a bank robbery, catching a bus and then running off again, was taken to hospital shortly after being caught because he told officers he was having a heart attack.
He had earlier presented a note to a teller at a New Zealand Post/Kiwibank branch in Dominion Rd, Mt Eden, and made off with a bag believed to contain about $500.
He fled the scene but was seen from the air by officers in the police Eagle helicopter, who guided their colleagues on the ground to set up road cordons and tracked the man after he ran away about 10.30am.
Officers shadowed the man as he jumped on to a bus at the top of Sandringham Rd but got off about 200m further on, at Gribblehirst Rd and continued on foot.
The man fled along Cambourne Rd and Parrish Rd and pursuing officers finally caught up with him back on Sandringham Rd, about one kilometre from the scene of the robbery, where an ambulance was called about 11am.
Inspector Gary Hill of the police northern communications centre said a report on the computer database stated the ambulance was called to the scene because the "male complained he was having a heart attack".
An earlier statement from police said the man was taken to Auckland City Hospital for a precautionary check-up complaining of exhaustion.
It is understood the man was released from the hospital into the care of the police.
A New Zealand Post spokesman said no staff were harmed during the incident.
The branch was closed for the rest of the day and staff were offered counselling.
