19 Dec 2023

13-year-old arrested after police track stolen vehicles in Auckland, Northland

2:56 pm on 19 December 2023
A police car

Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi

A 13-year-old is among a group of three arrested over erratic driving across Auckland and part of Northland for two hours on Monday evening.

Waitematā North area prevention manager Senior Sergeant Roger Small said police were told about a stolen vehicle spotted on Worker Road, Wellsford, at around 5.20pm.

"The vehicle was signalled to stop but failed to do so," he said.

"Police initiated a short pursuit before abandoning [it] due to the manner of driving."

It was then seen driving north on State Highway 1 where it was successfully spiked just north of Onerere Road.

The vehicle was dumped north of Glenmore Road and two male occupants were picked up by a grey Ford Ranger with no registration plates. The vehicle had been stolen earlier in the day from a dealership in Manukau, Senior Sergeant Small said.

While it travelled north on SH1 it was tracked by the police Eagle helicopter.

A passenger was seen leaving the vehicle in Raumanga.

"The vehicle has then headed southbound back on State Highway 1 until it was spiked at Te Hana.

"At about 7.30pm the vehicle has lost a tyre and the driver has subsequently lost control of the vehicle at Schedewys Hill and crashed."

No-one was injured, Senior Sergeant Small said.

"This was a serious and potentially very dangerous incident, which was thankfully bought to a resolution."

A 15-year-old will appear in North Shore Youth Court, a 22-year-old will appear in North Shore District Court and a 13-year-old was referred to Youth Aid Services.