Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
A man who stole a police officer's car in Christchurch this morning - leading to a pursuit in which two other patrol cars collided - remains at large with an officer's ID.
A police dog handler was attending an incident in the suburb of Hoon Hay and an offender who was found at the scene was bitten by a dog, but managed to avoid arrest.
He then got in the dog handler's car, which had been left running, and fled the scene.
Police said the stolen car was pursued by other units for a short time, but they lost sight of the car.
During the pursuit two patrol vehicles collided at the intersection of Straven Road and Rata Street in Riccarton.
The patrol cars sustained moderate damage and no one was injured in the crash.
The stolen car was found abandoned in Sheppard Place, St Albans just after 8am.
Police said an officer's ID has been stolen and a petrol card, but no other police items were taken.
The offender is still being sought, and an investigation into the full circumstances of the incident has been launched.
