Car used in ATM ram raid chased in West Auckland

A stolen vehicle sought by police in connection with a ram raid that netted tens of thousands of dollars was believed to have been involved in a pursuit in West Auckland yesterday.

A red 2004 Holden Commodore SV6 was one of two cars taken from a transporter yard in Otahuhu between November 8 and 9.

The other was a 2004 Holden Aventra station wagon and was used in the ram raid of an ATM machine at the Milford shopping mall on November 16.

The ATM machine was found the following day destroyed by tools to remove the tens of thousands of dollars inside.

The station wagon was found burned out in Ponsonby.

Detective Scott Armstrong of the Glenfield combined investigation unit said the large amount of money taken from the ATM would be difficult to conceal.

A Commodore believed to be the stolen SV6 was seen by police in West Auckland yesterday afternoon and pursued by several patrols, said Inspector Kerry Watson.

Police patrols lost sight of the vehicle and then located it again before it got away.

The Eagle helicopter continued to follow the car until it was driven into the underground carpark at Lynn Mall, New Lynn, and the driver fled.