Sergeant Matt Lee, of Dunedin, said police were alerted at 9am on Wednesday to a stolen vehicle being driven across the Balclutha Bridge.
The vehicle, a Mazda, was allegedly stolen in the early hours of the morning by a man known to police from the registered owner’s address.
Police followed the vehicle and were coming up with a plan to stop it safely when it pulled into the Waihola NPD petrol station, Sgt Lee said.
‘‘The vehicle was being driven by a 29-year-old male who had only been released from the Otago Correctional Facility the previous day.’’
The man was arrested and charged with driving while disqualified and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
He appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday with his bail opposed, Sgt Lee said.
‘‘He has now been remanded in custody, back at the Otago Corrections Facility.’’
A police spokeswoman previously said officers were preparing to deploy road spikes before the vehicle stopped at the service station.
The stolen car would be returned to its owner, the spokeswoman said.
