Two arrested after 27km police chase

Two men are facing a raft of theft and driving charges after they led police on a 27km chase in a stolen car after a burglary in Auckland yesterday.

The chase began after a police patrol spotted a white Honda acting suspiciously in Silverdale, about 30km north of Auckland, at about noon.

The patrol car followed the Honda and gave chase after it sped onto the Northern Motorway, heading south, Waitemata police said.

The officers established the car had been stolen from Mount Wellington earlier in the day, and the police Eagle helicopter was called in.

Police unsuccessfully attempted to stop the car at Grenville Rd on the North Shore before it left the motorway at Constellation Drive and drove to the Wairau Park area, where one of two men in the car jumped out at Archers Rd and was caught by police.

He suffered moderate injuries and was treated at hospital, Mr Loughlin said.

The driver continued to evade police, crossing the Harbour Bridge in the bus lane before leaving the motorway at the Gillies Ave exit.

The Eagle helicopter spotted the car entering the grounds of Auckland Hospital and a police dog unit was alerted.

The chase ended after a security guard alerted police that the driver had entered the hospital.

Police estimate the driver covered about 27km in his attempt to evade arrest.

A search of the car revealed $30,000 in stolen property, including three large televisions, which had been stolen from a Silverdale property earlier in day.

Further property was located and police inquiries are continuing.

A 29-year-old Kaikohe man and a 22-year-old Otahuhu man, both unemployed, will appear in North Shore District Court today on eight charges including theft of property, burglary, unlawful taking and entering of a motor vehicle, theft from a car, failing to stop, reckless driving and providing false details.

- NZPA