A teenager who evaded police for nearly three hours after allegedly stealing a car in Whangārei has been arrested and now faces multiple charges.
Police were called when a Whangārei woman reported her vehicle stolen while she was visiting friends in Dargaville at around 4.45pm.
Whangārei-Kaipara area commander Inspector Maria Nordstrom said officers quickly located the stolen car, but the driver fled.
“The vehicle’s driver was quickly identified by officers, and members of the public directed police to a rural property they believed the youth was at. Police attended but the youth had already fled into nearby bush.”
A police dog team was sent to the property and tracked the teen for around three hours.
Nordstrom said the fugitive managed to hitch a ride back into town during that time.
“Officers located the youth in town and after a short foot chase, he was successfully arrested at about 9.20pm.”
The 15-year-old faced multiple charges including burglary, unlawfully taking a vehicle, dangerous driving and failing to stop.
