Dunedin armed hunt ends in arrest

Armed police in Dunedin search for a man after an alleged shoplifting incident. Photo / ODT

An alleged shoplifting incident escalates into an armed police callout in Dunedin.

A man who sparked an armed manhunt and a police car chase in Dunedin was captured last night.

Police began looking for the man after an alleged shoplifting incident at Gardens New World yesterday morning.

Armed police, including the armed offenders squad, flooded Norwood St in Northeast Valley about 11.30am after a white Holden Commodore was found abandoned in the driveway of a house in the street.

The street was cordoned off and dog handlers deployed.

Earlier, police had followed the car on a short pursuit around North Dunedin.

Police declined to release a photo of the man.

He was believed to be visiting the area and it was not known if the house where the vehicle was abandoned was his residence, a police spokesman said.

"The information we had was that an armed response may be necessary," the spokesman said.

"There was no confirmation that firearms were involved."

A Foodstuffs spokeswoman confirmed a "shoplifting incident" took place at Gardens New World, but she would not elaborate on the details of the incident or what had been taken.

"The shoplifter was detained and police were called," she said.

Armed police in Dunedin search for a man after an alleged shoplifting incident. Photo / ODT

A Norwood St resident said he saw the man in the backyard of the house where he abandoned his car.

"He was in the backyard for about 10 minutes burning [something] in a bucket," the man said.

"I thought this is really weird behaviour."

Last night police said they had found the man at a Dunedin residence and he was arrested without incident.

He would appear in Dunedin District Court tomorrow charged with failing to stop and obtaining by deception.

Police said further charges could be laid once inquiries were completed.