The man wanted over a series of home invasions targeting elderly people has been arrested after a manhunt north of Auckland.
William John Murphy, 36, was seen driving a stolen car on a State Highway 1 north of the Puhoi toll tunnels at about 8am.
The car crashed a short time after it was spotted. Murphy fled into the bush near Puhoi River, police said.
A dog unit and the police Eagle helicopter found Murphy hiding near Puhoi. He surrendered without resistance.
Acting Waitemata district commander Inspector Les Paterson apologised for commuter delays as police closed off the highway as they pursued Murphy.
"Police apologise for any inconvenience caused to motorists and commuters but say the road closure was essential in the interests of public safety."
Murphy has been taken into custody and is expected to appear in Court later today at North Shore.
This is excellent news. Now that Murphy is in custody, we will make no further comment as the justice system takes its course.
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Do you know this man? Or have you seen him?
Stuff names him:
The main suspect in a string of robberies targeting elderly victims in Auckland has more than 90 convictions for burglaries, violence and sexual crimes.
On Saturday at 8pm another elderly woman was bound, beaten and robbed in her Pakuranga home - a close-knit retirement village of nearly 30 units.
Police believe the same man may have been responsible for eight recent attacks and yesterday named 36-year-old William John Murphy, also known as Wiremu Ruapapera.
Murphy was identified as the man trying to use a stolen ATM card on Thursday, in a picture taken at the Pt Chevalier ASB Bank shortly after a 79-year-old Westmere woman was robbed and tied up in her home.
Detective inspector Karen Malthus said Murphy was "transient" and known to move between Kaitaia and Manurewa.
He had failed to appear in the Auckland District Court for sentencing in February and cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet.
Police previously described Murphy as a "top priority offender" and said he "poses a real threat to the community".
Now of course Murphy is onlky a suspect at this stage, and is entitled to be considered innocent until proven guilty. But the fact that the Police have released his photograph and name must mean that they have very strong evidence against him for at least some of the recent attacks.
Attacks like this on the elderly in their own homes are an especially nasty crime. We hope that the publication of Murphy's name and photograph leads to a swift arrest. The most recent attack is more serious by virtue of the violence against the elderly victim. The elderly are particularly vulnerable, and if the violence continues to escalate, it is only a matter of time before some unfortunate, random victim is gravely injured or even killed.
We urge readers to share this image via whatever sources are available to them in the hope of flushing this career criminal out. New Zealand will be a safer place once he is off the streets.
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