Police investigate pharmacy intruder's death

JASON OXENHAM/Auckland Suburbans JOHN SELKIRK/Stuff.co.nz JOHN SELKIRK/Stuff.co.nz JOHN SELKIRK/Stuff.co.nz JOHN SELKIRK/Stuff.co.nz

HAPPIER TIMES: Pharmacist Grant Gillard and his wife Vera inside their Auckland pharmacy last year, when they celebrated 40 years in the business.

Police were called to the scene at Great North Rd shortly before 5.30am.

Police and ESR staff are carrying out a scene examination.

Police are examining a hole at the back of the Gillard Pharmacy building in Mt Albert.

Auckland City Police Western Area Commander, Inspector Jim Wilson.

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The owner of an Auckland pharmacy has been spoken to by police after he was involved in a struggle with an intruder in his shop who later died.

The Mount Albert pharmacy is owned by Grant Gillard, who has operated the business with his wife Vera for more than 40 years.

Police said he was not in custody but had "been spoken to".

Auckland City police western area commander Inspector Jim Wilson said the owner the pharmacy was alerted at 4.30am by a security company that the property's alarm had been activated.

Mr Gillard and a security guard had entered the building together.

"On arrival, both entered the pharmacy together and searched - we're told - for about 10 minutes, but didn't find anyone else on the property.

"At that stage, the security guard has left and the owner has stayed on to secure the premises," Auckland City Police Western Area Commander, Inspector Jim Wilson, said.

Shortly after this Mr Gillard was confronted by an intruder and there has been a struggle, Mr Wilson said.

Police would not comment on the intruder's injuries or if there was a weapon involved.

Police arrived minutes later and commenced CPR on the intruder and called for the ambulance service, Mr Wilson said.

The intruder, believed to be middle aged, has yet to be identified.

Police are also examining a hole at the back of the building.

Around one metre in size and underneath a window, it appears potentially large enough for a person to fit through.

Mr Wilson said police were called to the scene at Great North Rd shortly before 5.30am, where the man - yet to be formally identified - was pronounced dead by ambulance staff just after 6am.

He said the man's body will remain at the scene for most of the day before being removed for an autopsy.

"We are investigating the circumstances of the death and are in the process of locating the man's next of kin," he said.

"Police and ESR staff will carry out a scene examination today."

Tape has blocked off the shop's entrance at 986 New North Road, Mt Albert with officers standing guard.

Outside the shop, retiree Stewart Burns told Stuff.co.nz that he had been there since 6am when he was alerted by the security company that an alarm had gone off.

He said he was a "key holder" who would get called if the alarm was triggered.

Mr Burns said ambulances had left the scene by the time he arrived.

-with NZPA

- © Fairfax NZ News