Seven youths arrested after fleeing Police in three stolen cars

At approximately 5:30am today an off-duty officer spotted three cars driving dangerously on Pukuatua Street, Rotorua.
 
The officer notified staff on shift and Police soon located the three cars on State Highway Five (Fairy Springs Road) heading north. 
 
It was established that the vehicles had been stolen from a car rental place nearby.
 
A number of Police units began following the car.
 
The driver of one car turned the vehicle around in Mamaku and it was spiked near the Ngongotaha roundabout a short time later. Three youths, aged 14-16, were arrested.
 
At the same time, the two other stolen vehicles were being driven north on State Highway 28.
 
One of the drivers hit a curb and blew the front tyre near Tapapa and Police arrested two more youths, aged 16 and 17. 
 
Police units continued to follow the remaining vehicle onto State Highway 29 towards Tauranga.
 
The driver crashed into a ditch in Lower Kaimai and two more youths, aged 16 and 17 were arrested. 
 
The youths involved in this offending not only put themselves at risk but also, police staff and innocent members of our community. 
 
Rotorua Police are taking this offending very seriously and are making further enquiries into what has occurred, including investigating the theft of the vehicles.
 
The youths will face a range of driving and burglary-related charges.
 
ENDS
 
Issued by Police Media Centre.