A stolen car was driven 25km on wheel rims along a rural Northland road after being running over road spikes during a police pursuit.
It was one of two pursuits within hours of each other overnight Tuesday and early yesterday.
Whangarei police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said three males were noticed loitering around a car in Tau Henare Dr, Waitangi, about 7pm on Tuesday. A member of the public saw them get in the yellow Mazda station wagon and drive off.
The car was seen about 80 minutes later near Towai on State Highway 1. It was again seen by police near the turnoff to Whananaki North where a pursuit started. The fleeing car went over police spikes just north of Hikurangi but continued on Whananaki South Rd for another 25km.
Ms Kennett said the car continued to the end of the road, half of which was gravel, where the car finally stopped and three teenagers, from Kawakawa, Moerewa and Whangarei, were arrested at 8.50pm.
A 17-year-old is charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, driving in a dangerous manner, unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle and failing to stop. He is to appear in the Kaikohe District Court on January 12.
Another 17-year-old is facing a charge of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and possession of utensils for cannabis. He was scheduled to appear in the Kaikohe District Court yesterday. The third person involved, a 16-year-old, is being dealt with by Youth Aid.
Less than five hours later, a 15-year-old boy was arrested after a stolen vehicle crashed during a police pursuit.
At 12.30am yesterday a member of the public alerted police after seeing men allegedly breaking into a vehicle parked at Opua Marina. The vehicle headed towards Kawakawa where two police cars tried to intercept it.
However, the driver failed to stop and headed along Ruapekapeka Rd.
About 15 minutes later, the vehicle crashed off the road and four people fled into nearby bush. A 15-year-old boy was found outside the car and he will be referred to Youth Aid.
Police found stolen items in the car, including a water blaster, weedeater, a petrol container and a television.
- By Kristin Edge of the Northern Advocate
