Onehunga jewellery store smash-and-grab: Two teens arrested after dramatic police chase

Two teens have been arrested after using hammers to smash their way into cabinets of a Onehunga Jewellery store.

One of the teens, a 17-year-old, was previously wanted for the attempted robbery of Mt Albert sports bar.

The pair were arrested after a dramatic 40-minute police chase across Auckland, where their getaway vehicle was spiked twice and only ended when the vehicle crashed.

Inspector Rob Carpinter said police responded to an incident at a jewellers on Onehunga Mall, Onehunga about 4.11pm on Tuesday.

“We received a report that two people carrying hammers had entered the store and began smashing cabinets.

“They have then fled the store and at this stage it is unknown what might have been taken.”

Auckland City CIB Detective Senior Sergeant Scott Armstrong said a “large amount of jewellery was stolen”.

As the pair fled, Armstrong said they were tracked by the police helicopter.

Onehunga Jewellers in Auckland was targetted by hammer-wielding offenders in a brazen afternoon robbery. Photo / Jason Dorday.

The Eagle tracked the vehicle as it travelled away from Papakura through Manurewa and on to Roscommon Rd, Wiri, where police tried to stop it for the first time.

Armstrong said they did not try to pursue the vehicle initially.

The getaway vehicle collided with another car as it travelled towards the Southwestern Motorway.

Armstrong said no one was injured in the collision.

As they tried to enter the motorway, Armstrong said police deployed spikes for the first time.

“Eagle has continued to observe the vehicle’s erratic driving on the motorway,

The vehicle changed direction and headed south before exiting at Massey Rd.

The vehicle continued at speed towards the Mt Wellington Highway, where it was spiked for a second time.

Police chased the vehicle as it travelled on the Southeastern Highway, Pakuranga.

The chase only ended when the vehicle collided with the barriers at the intersection of Ti Rakau Drive and Reeves Rd.

The alleged offenders attempted to hijack another vehicle but were stopped by police.

“Throughout this incident, the vehicle has been driven extremely erratically and fortunately no members of the public suffered any harm.”

A 17-year-old has been charged with aggravated robbery, dangerous driving, failing to stop and two counts of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

Linked to Mt Albert sports bar attempted robbery

Police said the 17-year-old has also been charged in connection with a violent attempted robbery at a Mt Albert sports bar on 22 June.

The Mt Albert Sports Bar and Gaming Lounge in Mt Albert. Photo / Dean Purcell

A neighbouring businessman of the bar on New North Rd said one of the attackers was armed with a knife and the other with a hammer.

The attack on the bar staff member resulted in him suffering a cut to his neck.

“He said some customers tried to stop them but were badly hurt.”

The neighbour said nothing was taken from the bar after three customers fought back.

Three people were injured, one critically, during the attempted robbery.

A 15-year-old has also been arrested and charged with aggravated robbery and two counts of unlawfully taking of a motor vehicle.

“Police are appalled at the level of violence used in these sorts of incidents,” Armstrong said.