A man is in custody ... after allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road and crashing into vehicles as he fled police in West Auckland

Police were alerted a person was trying to steal a vehicle at Westgate Shopping Centre about 1.30pm.

Police then attempted to stop a vehicle on Massey's Royal View Rd - but the driver fled.

Police say it's now known he was wanted by police.

They allege the driver drove on the wrong side of the road, on footpaths and at speed - before they slowed the vehicle using tyre deflation devices.