A 25-year-old Christchurch man, allegedly driving a stolen car containing firearms, was arrested without incident at Evansdale yesterday afternoon, after being followed from south of Oamaru by police.
The man will appear in the Dunedin District Court today charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, burglary and possessing cannabis.
Detective Sergeant Mike Ryder, of Oamaru, said a member of the public contacted police about 2.50pm to make a complaint about the driving of a white Holden Commodore, just south of Oamaru.
A police check of the registration number showed it had been reported stolen from Christchurch on Tuesday, along with firearms and ammunition.
The informant, who was also travelling south, was able to keep police updated on the car's location until patrols caught up.
Once that happened, police followed the car, observing it from a distance, while members of the armed offenders squad and other Dunedin police officers prepared to stop the vehicle.
The man, who was the sole occupant of the car, drove "quite sensibly" and it was not a pursuit, Det Sgt Ryder said.
Members of the armed offenders squad stopped the car on State Highway 1 and apprehended the man just before 4pm, he said.
Four firearms, which had been reported stolen, had been recovered, he said.
It was possible further charges might be laid, Det Sgt Ryder said.
