Police have confirmed they are still on the hunt for the occupants of a vehicle that led them on a chase throughout the city.
A number of Christchurch residents described the dramatic police chase on Thursday, which saw the driver flee into oncoming traffic and through cycle lanes.
Superintendent Karyn Malthus said police received a report at 6.12am that a firearm had been presented by the occupant of the car at another car.
The incident occurred on Port Hills Rd in Hillsborough, Malthus said.
“Police did not initiate a pursuit and instead tracked the vehicle as it fled through the suburbs,” she said.
At one stage, police attempted to stop the car using road spikes - but were unsuccessful. A local helicopter was then called in to help.
Malthus said the car was eventually found on Moohouse Ave, Addington, where the offender took a second car and fled.
"Observations on this second vehicle were lost soon after that."
Malthus said police want to hear from anyone who has information that could help them locate the occupants.
"Information can be provided via 105 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting event number P052705666."
It is understood the car, a silver Subaru, was ditched at BP Moorhouse Ave, where the driver allegedly then stole a Toyota Hiace van.
Motorists this morning reported seeing the vehicle being driven along a cycleway on the wrong side of the road.
“The way he was driving, I thought there must be some police after him. If there were kids biking to school they wouldn’t have stood a chance - it was reckless and horrendous.”
Another witness said: “It was like watching a game of Grand Theft Auto. Speeding down the wrong side of Moorhouse and then swapping cars at BP and speeding away. Crazy to watch."
Another motorist said the road spikes were unsuccessfully deployed on the corner of Grahams Rd and Memorial Ave.
-By Nathan Morton and Star News
