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Three people allegedly involved in a robbery in the suburbs tried to shake off a police chase by taking an oncoming trip on a Wellington highway, before abandoning their vehicle on foot.
Police were responding to the report of an armed robbery in Brooklyn at 3 p.m. Easter Monday when they tried to stop a vehicle that was allegedly carrying the two men, 29 and 34, and a 29-year-old woman.
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When the vehicle continued, police instigated a chase, but was forced to abandon it when the driver allegedly drove in the wrong direction along the State Highway 1 exit ramp in Johnsonville.
JOSEPH JOHNSON / COSAS
Three people were arrested after an armed robbery in the Brooklyn suburb of Wellington. A car carrying the trio was driven the wrong way down a highway when they allegedly attempted to flee. (File photo)
The trio abandoned their vehicle on the exit ramp on foot.
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While two people were found nearby, it was a police dog that successfully found a third person on a nearby property soon after.
A weapon was also found, but the public was not in danger, Detective Sergeant Major Kevan Verry said.
“The [alleged] the criminals have been charged with several counts including aggravated robbery, illegal possession of a firearm and failing to stop, “Verry said.
The trio will perform Tuesday at Wellington District Court.
“We would like to hear from any member of the public who has witnessed the incident, particularly anyone who has seen the abandoned vehicle on the Johnsonville exit ramp,” Verry said.
Local resident Graeme Farr said he heard “a lot of sirens” and went to investigate when he saw his neighbor looking out the window.
He said he ran to a nearby freeway bridge and saw a man in police custody by the Helston Rd freeway bridge.
NZTA tweeted around 3:30 p.m. Monday saying that a police incident had closed the exit ramp.
The agency has warned motorists to allow more time for their trips in the area, until the exit ramp reopens at 4.30 p.m.
Police confirmed that the exit ramp was closing to allow the recovery of a vehicle “involved in an incident” in the early afternoon.
