Five teenagers will face charges after three vehicles were allegedly stolen from a rural property north of Dargaville, with one colliding with a house while attempting to flee police.
Police said three vehicles were stolen from Mamaranui at around 1am on Sunday.
Inspector Maria Nordstrom, Whangārei-Kaipara Area Commander, said the vehicles travelled in convoy south into Dargaville where they were spotted by police.
“All three vehicles failed to stop for the unit near River Rd, before beginning to drive at excessive speeds.”
Police did not pursue the vehicles, she said.
“Police soon came across one of these vehicles which had collided with a house on River Rd, and the driver was attempting to run on foot before being apprehended by police.”
Nordstrom said a second vehicle was located abandoned on State Highway 12 near Turiwiri, while a third stolen vehicle was spiked near Pūhoi.
All five were charged with burglary and multiple counts of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.
Those arrested were aged between 14 and 16.
