Hijacker tries to strangle truckie

An Auckland thief who tried to strangle a man before stealing his truck and setting it on fire was caught when police were led to his location by the vehicle's GPS device.

Details of the crime were still emerging last night but police believe an "act of good faith" by the driver resulted in the attack, which left the truckie with neck wounds.

Detective Sergeant Ian McGill said police believed the truck driver offered the man a ride before he was attacked and hauled out of the truck.

Officers used the GPS system to track the truck to Elsie Morton Place in Papakura. A man was arrested at the scene and police believed others were involved.