Cuffed teen takes police car

A handcuffed teenager leapt into the front seat of an empty police car, smashed it through a roller door at Auckland Airport and yesterday led officers on a 40-minute chase.

The police Eagle chopper was used to help find the 16-year-old, who had been taken to the airport by police on behalf of Oranga Tamariki. The teenager was meant to be flying to Wellington. The incident unfolded about 10.22am, as the handcuffed teenager sat in the back of the marked police vehicle at the Auckland Airport police station.

As police staff were briefly out of the parked vehicle, the youth managed to get into the driver’s seat and took off, driving through a closed roller door and fleeing the scene.

The vehicle was seen by the Eagle helicopter, and ground staff found it abandoned outside a Randwick Park address. Police surrounded the address and a male was taken into custody about 11am.

The teen was to appear in the Youth Court yesterday afternoon on charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, dangerous driving and escaping custody. Police cannot rule out further charges.

Counties Manukau District Commander Superintendent Jill Rogers said it was a serious incident and police would conduct a review to establish the full circumstances. “Thankfully no one was injured. An internal review will be carried out to ensure the officers followed best practice and to see what, if any, learnings we can take from this incident.”

The matter will be referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority.