"Suspicious behaviour" led them to stop what they found to be a stolen car loaded with stolen items, knives and machetes, Queenstown police said.
Sergeant Steve Watt said an 18-year-old "girlfriend and boyfriend" couple had been working on a dairy farm in Ashburton for a week when they took items such as an Xbox and a television from another worker's accommodation, then took the worker's car and drove to Invercargill.
The pair then picked up another couple, a 16-year-old boy and an 18-year-old woman.
"All four got in the car and travelled to Queenstown."
Police intercepted the car on Edgar St and Sgt Watt said the teenagers "attempted to evade police".
The 16-year-old has been referred to Youth Aid while the other three have been charged with a list of offences. The dairy workers appeared in the Queenstown District Court yesterday morning and were remanded in custody to appear in the Invercargill District Court at a later date.
Charges included burglary and theft of a motor vehicle and the woman was also charged with obstructing police. Her partner was charged with possession of an offensive weapon. Both had prior warrants for their arrest.
• Queenstown police are appealing for information about two separate motor vehicle crashes earlier this month.
They would like to speak to the driver of a silver BMW Sedan involved in a nose to tail collision with a utility on Frankton Rd at the Suburb St intersection on Friday, September 7.
Sergeant Derek Ealson said as a result of the collision a female passenger in the utility was taken to hospital for X-rays.
On Sunday, September 9, a silver Toyota Landcruiser crashed into a concrete power pole, causing about $20,000 damage to the pole. Police would like to speak to the driver and Sgt Ealson said the vehicle would have a "fairly extensive" amount of damage, because debris from the impact was left at the scene.
"If anyone can help, please phone the Queenstown police and please ask for the duty sergeant. Any help would be appreciated."
The telephone number for the Queenstown police is (03) 441-1600.
