A man accused of stealing electric bicycles in Central China's Henan province was shot dead when he assaulted police with a brick last week, the local government said on Monday.

The 38-year-old man, surnamed Wang, was allegedly caught stealing an electric tricycle together with a female suspect surnamed Zhang at a hospital in Wenxian county at about 10:20 am on Oct 4. Zhang was apprehended by police at the scene, but Wang tried to escape in a car, according to a statement from the Wenxian county public security bureau.

While making his getaway, Wang knocked over a police motorcycle leaving two policemen injured. He then ran over another police motorcycle with two policemen on it, ignoring police warnings being broadcast from loudspeakers, said the statement.

Concerned the suspect may cause more damage with the car, policeman Li Shixuan shot two bullets into the sky as a warning to the suspect, which was ignored.

Wang abandoned the car in a village and tried to escape by jumping into a ditch. Li and another policeman followed him closely.

The suspect kicked one policeman in the stomach before attacking Li with a brick, bringing both policemen to the ground. Li fired at Wang when he again tried to attack him with a brick.

Wang was shot in the stomach and later died in hospital.

Zhang told police that the pair had stolen more than 120 electric bicycles and tricycles since 2010, said the statement.