Car left at roadside thought to be stolen

Two people have been taken into custody after police attempted to stop a stolen vehicle in South Otago yesterday afternoon.

Tony Ritchie, Youth Services Supervisor with Dunedin police, said the pair have been referred to Youth Aid in relation to a burglary in the Dunedin suburb of Mornington, where the vehicle was taken.

Several police vehicles cordoned off a section of State Highway 1 near the intersection with Whitiker Rd, about 8km south of Balclutha, at 3pm.

Highway traffic continued to flow slowly past an abandoned red Mazda, which had a missing front right tyre.

A police spokesman said officers had attempted to stop a stolen vehicle in Balclutha, and deployed spikes when the car refused to stop.

The vehicle was not stopped and police did not pursue the vehicle, which was found abandoned a short time later.

The Otago Daily Times understands an individual being tracked left the vehicle, before heading across farmland to the north.

About 4pm, a police dog and his handlers arrived from Dunedin and began searching nearby farmland, after picking up a scent from the abandoned car.

State Highway 1 remained open during the incident.

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