100km chase through Taupō District

Police are asking for the public’s help following the arrest of a gang member who allegedly fled Police then stole a vehicle in Taupō today.

Bay of Plenty Area Commander Phil Edwards is asking motorists who might have dashcam footage of the incident to get in touch.

It happened between Tūrangi on State Highway 1 and Pohokura on the Napier to Taupō Rd (SH5), between 8.50am and 10am.

Edwards says Police first tried to stop the vehicle in Tūrangi for suspicious behaviour, but the man fled, heading north towards Taupō.

Police deployed spikes near Waitahanui Bridge, State Highway 1, disabling the first vehicle.  

Police allege the man exited the first vehicle and approached a commercial vehicle, pulling the occupant – who was uninjured - from the driver’s seat before fleeing again.

He drove to Taupō, then up State Highway 5 towards Napier. 

“He exceeded speeds of more than 130km and regularly drove on the wrong side of the road. In one instance, he travelled more than 5.5km on the wrong side of the road,” Edwards says.

Units from Taupō and Hawke’s Bay were deployed, with the second vehicle spiked about 9km south of Pohokura on SH 5.

The man was taken into custody just before 10am.  

“Police did an excellent job in resolving this offending as quickly and safely as possible.”

Edwards asked anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact Police via 105 online or by calling 105.

Information can also be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111. Please reference case 260817/5917. 

Charges were pending on Monday afternoon, Edwards says.