Two Queenstown Lakes District Council workers had to step in to try to stop a man stealing one of the local authority's cars yesterday.
Police received a report at about 2.35pm that a council vehicle had been taken from Magnolia Pl, near Copper Beach Ave, in Frankton.
Two men, who both work for the council, saw a man trying to steal the car and tried to stop him, but he fled in the vehicle.
Initial reports suggested the man tried to hit one of the workers who confronted him.
No-one was injured in the incident.
The stolen vehicle has been recovered and police are trying to locate the thief.
