Off-duty cop chases jewellery thief in Wellington

Photo / File

An off-duty senior police officer who pursued a robber out of a Wellington jewellery store was forced to back off when she was confronted by a gun.

Superintendent Sandra Manderson was shopping in Lambton Quay jewellery store Walker & Hall on Monday when the man entered the store behind her and grabbed bracelets.

Ms Manderson told Radio New Zealand she chased the man as he ran out of the store, jewellery dropping from his hand.

"He ran straight across the road down into Stout St where he was parked, followed by me.

"Fortunately I wore flats [shoes] home so I was really prepared and away I went," she said.

"I was yelling out as I went 'stop, stop, stop that man, he's a thief', and I was really, really pleased with the public response actually; they were great."

Ms Manderson said when she reached the offender's vehicle she saw he had a handgun and she backed off.

"I was with another gentleman, he opened the car door ... the offender had a firearm so that sort of put me off pretty quickly," she said.

"The gun was on the seat of the car and he had his hand on it and indicated to it."

Ms Manderson rang 111, giving details of the vehicle and offender.

Police said this morning a man was arrested in Porirua overnight in relation to the incident.