Seven teenagers have been arrested after allegedly fleeing Rotorua police in three stolen cars.
An off-duty officer spotted the group driving dangerously on Pukuatua St at 5:30am on Saturday.
On-shift police were notified and soon spotted the three cars on State Highway 5, heading north.
The cars had been stolen from a rental service nearby.
A number of police units started their pursuit, spiking the first of the three vehicles in Mamaku, near the Ngongotaha roundabout.
Three people, aged 14 to 16, were arrested.
At the same time, the two other cars were still on the highway.
One of the drivers hit a curb and blew the front tyre near Tapapa. Police arrested a 16- and 17-year-old.
The last vehicle made it to State Highway 29 towards Tauranga, crashing into a ditch in Lower Kaimai. Another 16- and 17-year-old were arrested.
Police say the group involved put themselves, the officers and the public at risk.
The youths will face a range of driving- and burglary-related charges.
Newshub.
