Police arrest man for Taupo knifepoint carjacking

Police have arrested a man after a knifepoint carjacking in Taupo yesterday.

A 19-year-old Hastings man was picked up by police on State Highway 1 near Meremere after he allegedly had a minor crash in the stolen red 1998 Honda Accord this morning. No other vehicles were involved.

The car was stolen from a 59-year-old man as he sat in his vehicle outside a central Taupo shopping centre yesterday afternoon.

The offender allegedly jumped into the car, put a knife to the man's ribs and ordered him out of the car. The robber then drove away.

Detective Allan Humphries said the robber drove the car from Taupo to Auckland and was heading south again when he crashed about 7.30am today.

He would appear in Hamilton District Court tomorrow, charged with aggravated robbery.

- NZPA