Teens charged after fleeing police in rental cars

3:32 pm on 27 January 2018

Seven teenagers have been arrested after trying to flee police in three stolen rental cars, police say.

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File photo. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin

An off-duty police officer spotted the cars being driven dangerously in central Rotorua at about 5.30 this morning.

On-duty officers were alerted and they caught up with the cars on State Highway 5 heading north, police said.

One car turned around in Mamaku and road spikes were used to stop it at the Ngongotaha roundabout a short time later.

The two other vehicles were being driven north on State Highway 28.

One hit a kerb and blew a front tyre near Tapapa.

The third car crashed into a ditch on State Highway 29 in the lower Kaimai area.

Police said the teenagers were aged between 14 and 17.

They would face a range of driving and burglary-related charges.