Please attribute to Inspector Clifford Paxton, Western BOP Area Commander:

At approximately 4:20am this morning Police received a report of an aggravated burglary at a house on Valley Road, Mount Maunganui.

Police responded and upon arrival at the address three men carrying weapons ran from the house and got into a car.

Police initiated a pursuit.

The men pulled over near Blake Park and got into another car which was pursued to Maunganui Road.

The men have then run from that vehicle and through Omanu Golf Club and along the side of the airport.

The area was cordoned and a dog unit and armed patrols searched for the men for some time.

The cordons have now been stood down and Police are making further enquiries to locate the offenders.

The victims of the aggravated burglary are being supported and a scene examination is being carried out at the property.

We believe that the occupants of this address, a man and a woman, were not the intended subjects of this attack.

It is deeply concerning that the occupants of this address have been put through such an ordeal.

We want to assure the community that we are treating this incident very seriously and are actively investigating.

Police ask that if anyone in the wider Mount Maunganui area witnessed anything suspicious earlier this morning, that they ring Mount Maunganui Police on 07 575 3143.

Information can also be given anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

ENDS

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