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A carload of out-of-town teenagers had their return plans halted after police stopped their stolen vehicle in South Auckland.
Just before 6am, Police received information that a stolen Toyota Hilux was travelling south on the Southern Motorway.
Senior Sergeant Simon Cornish, of Counties Manukau East Police, says the vehicle had been reported stolen from the Hamilton area.
“It is alleged the vehicle was stolen overnight, and the Police Eagle helicopter deployed to the area,” he says.
“The vehicle was picked up in Manurewa, with its location being relayed to staff on the ground.”
Spikes were successfully deployed, but the vehicle carried on.
“It has continued slowly through the wider area, before being slowed further on Stratford Road,” Cornish says.
“Units blocked the vehicle in before it could get back to the motorway network.”
Five male occupants, four from the Waikato and one from the Bay of Plenty, were taken into custody without further incident.
Those arrested are all aged 16 and 17, including the 16-year-old male driver.
“Police have recovered several items of interest, including tools, from the vehicle so it’s clear that this morning’s arrest has prevented further offending from taking place.”
Police are speaking with several of the vehicle’s occupants in relation to other offending within the Waikato region.
Charges are pending for this morning’s offending, he says.
