Robbery prompts armed police response in Auckland

Armed police and a helicopter were deployed to chase down a car involved in a robbery in Auckland on Thursday night. Photo / Glenn Taylor

Armed police and a helicopter were deployed to chase down a car involved in a robbery in Auckland on Thursday night which saw a firearm aimed at the victims of the theft.

Police were alerted to a robbery on Queen Street in Pukekohe at 6.45pm on Thursday.

The victim had been sitting in a parked car when a man approached, assaulted the victim through the passenger window and stole a necklace, mobile phone and some bank cards.

The offender returned to an awaiting vehicle and drove away, the victim and his friend followed the offending vehicle in their car and contacted police.

While the victims were following the offending vehicle, a man pointed a firearm out the window towards the victim's car.

The police helicopter "Eagle" quickly tracked down the offending vehicle while police also responded on the ground.

Armed police stopped the vehicle on the Southern Motorway travelling northbound near the Hill Road onramp at 7pm.

The three occupants in the vehicle were arrested and were now assisting police with enquiries.

A BB gun and the necklace stolen from the victim had been recovered after a search of the vehicle.

The motorway was closed for around 10 minutes while police made the arrests.