Fourteen youths, including four aged just 13, have been arrested over a spate of vehicle thefts in Auckland.
Police detailed several incidents in the city over the past 48 hours, including one case where the vehicle rolled down a bank and injured the alleged offenders, and another where a driver continued to flee police on rims after being spiked.
Just after 2am on Thursday, officers were called to a report of youths allegedly interfering with parked vehicles on Spinella Dr in Bayview.
Waitematā East Relieving Area Commander Insp Michael Rickards said officers soon learned two vehicles the group were travelling in were stolen.
"We did not initiate a pursuit but were soon able to deploy spikes successfully on one of the vehicles in Takapuna.
"This vehicle soon came to a stop where the two occupants fled on foot but were quickly taken into custody."
However, he added those in the second stolen vehicle headed south where police sighted it again in Titirangi and initiated a pursuit.
"The driver... attempted to hide the vehicle from police down a steep driveway but he has lost control and it has rolled down a small bank," Rickards said.
"Five occupants decamped and fled into the bush but we were able to locate four and take them into custody. Two were transported to Waitākere Hospital for medical attention."
One offender has been charged and will appear before the Youth Court. The others have been referred to Youth Aid.
It comes after a separate incident in Mt Wellington just before midnight on Tuesday, when a person reported that their vehicle had been stolen.
Counties Manukau West response manager Snr Sgt Steve Albrey said police received information from the victim the vehicle was travelling south.
"The vehicle was tracked to Māngere, where it eventually came to a stop at an address in Ihumātao," he said.
"Our staff cordoned off the area and located the stolen vehicle at the rear of the property.
"We took five youths into custody at the address without further incident. Four of the five were aged 13, and all have been referred to Youth Aid."
Hours later, on the North Shore, another incident was reported at 3:30am.
Police said a vigilant public member reported several young people were parking vehicles near Becroft Park in Forrest Hill.
Counties Manukau South Area Commander Insp Joe Hunter said a police unit attended and sighted another vehicle, suspected of being stolen, being driven towards the park.
"Upon seeing police, the driver has taken off at speed but we didn't pursue and tracked it south using traffic cameras as it exited the motorway at Takanini, where we successfully spiked its tyres," Hunter said.
"The driver has continued on rims along Great South Rd but the vehicle soon came to a complete stop."
Two 14-year-olds and a 15-year-old were taken into custody following the incident.
"While we've had a successful and safe apprehension outcome, our thoughts are with the multiple victims affected by this group's behaviour," Hunter said.
Five other stolen vehicles were in Forest Hill and recovered in connection with this third incident.
One offender has been charged and is before the Youth Court, while the rest have been referred to Youth Aid.
