At approximately 4:15am this morning Police responded to reports of up to five burglaries of stores in central Dargaville.
An offender has broken into three stores, stolen a vehicle from one and proceeded to break into another two stores using the vehicle to gain access.
Police disturbed the offender who fled along Parore Street in the stolen vehicle and after failing to stop for Police, a pursuit was initiated at approximately 4:45am.
During this pursuit the offender has rammed a Police unit causing significant damage to the vehicle. Fortunately no Police officers were injured.
The pursuit was abandoned on Waimata Road at approximately 5am. Shortly after this, the offender left the vehicle and decamped on foot.
Approximately an hour later the offender has unlawfully taken another vehicle which Police have located him driving.
Police have initiated another short pursuit which was abandoned a short time later.
The offender has then abandoned the vehicle nearby and tried to escape on foot over farmland where Police proceeded to arrest him.
The man is now being spoken to and Police will this morning carry out scene examinations at the burglaries.
It is not yet known what charges the man will face. We will issue an update when possible.
ENDS
Issued by Police Media Centre