A 46-year-old man has been remanded in custody by consent after leading police on a high-speed pursuit earlier this morning.
Brett Kamira Martin, of Invercargill, appeared in Dunedin District Court this afternoon.
He was chased by a large number of police vehicles after a petrol drive-off from a Balclutha petrol station.
Speeds of more than 130kmh were possibly reached in the chase from Waihola to Mosgiel, Senior Sergeant Craig Dinnissen said.
After stealing the petrol from Balclutha the driver headed north in his Mitsubishi V3000 station wagon and was seen by police in Waihola.
He was pursued for a short time before police called off the chase because of the speeds the man was driving, he said.
"Roughly 30 minutes" later the driver saw a police car in Gladfield Rd, Mosgiel, and gave himself up without incident.
It was unclear why the man handed himself in.
"He stopped by a patrol car," Snr Sgt Dinnissen said.
"He just stopped and gave himself up."
Police would like to reassure the community that they should not be concerned for their safety, he said.
Martin has been charged with reckless driving, failing to stop to ascertain injury after a non-injury accident, theft and failing to stop for police while driving dangerously.
He was represented in court by duty solicitor Noel Rayner and will apply for counsel to be assigned.
He is due to reappear in court on Friday morning.
