Three Southland men are in custody after allegedly stealing a car, trailer and motorcycle in Queenstown on Monday night.
One of the men later led police from the resort, Lumsden and Gore on a series of short-lived pursuits before he was finally arrested near Lumsden early yesterday morning.
Sergeant Mark Gill, of Queenstown, said the trio were seen acting suspiciously in the grounds of Wakatipu High School about 10.35pm, shortly after the owner of a Nissan Terrano told police it had been stolen from Hallenstein St.
Two of the men, 23-year-olds from Invercargill, were arrested about midnight when stopped in a second Nissan Terrano on Frankton Rd.
The third man, a 25-year-old from the Ohai-Clifden area, drove south towards Kingston in the stolen vehicle while towing the trailer and motorcycle.
He twice failed to stop for police south of Kingston before crashing and rolling the vehicle on a gravel road.
He then allegedly stole a farmer's vehicle and continued south, even after its tyres were damaged by road spikes near Garston. He was finally stopped and arrested near Lumsden.
The two men detained in Queenstown were charged with unlawfully being on a property, and are due to appear in the Queenstown District Court on Monday.
The third man was taken to hospital with unspecified injuries.
Sgt Gill said further charges were pending for all three men.
Police were keen to hear from anyone with information about the men's activities on Monday from about 7pm, or anyone who had property stolen.
It was also likely the men had committed offences on their way from Southland to Queenstown, Sgt Gill said.
Police (03) 441-1600, Crimestoppers 0800-555-111.
