Two people have been taken into custody after a vehicle towing an allegedly stolen caravan “begun driving in a reckless manner” around the Coromandel Peninsula yesterday.
Police said tools were thrown from the vehicle, damaging a patrol car and injuring two members of the public.
The incident began when police received a report at about 2.25pm that a caravan had been stolen from a property in Matarangi.
Senior Sergeant Leo Belay said the caravan was seen by police being towed by a vehicle in Te Rerenga to the south shortly after, adding that the driver failed to stop when signalled by police: “The driver has then begun driving in a reckless manner and overtaking vehicles.
“We have continued to receive various reports and sightings of this vehicle in the Coromandel area, where it has continued to be driven with disregard to the road rules.”
Belay said a hammer was thrown at police from the fleeing vehicle, damaging a patrol car, as it travelled along Castle Rock Rd.
A wrench was also thrown from the vehicle as it travelled down the 309 Road, hitting two members of the public in the head and causing minor injuries, he added.
“Shortly after, while in the Waiau area, the caravan came off the vehicle that was towing it.
“The driver has continued to overtake dangerously while heading towards Coromandel township, where police lost sight of it.”
The vehicle was relocated with the help of information from members of the public as it travelled toward Colville, Belay said.
He added that the police Eagle helicopter assisted ground units with tracking, which led to road spikes being deployed and the vehicle being brought to a stop.
“Three occupants fled on foot near Flays Rd, Coromandel running into a nearby address and have allegedly stolen another vehicle from a member of the public and continued to flee down the Thames Coast at high speed.”
Eagle followed the vehicle up Tapu-Coroglen Rd where it was abandoned and set on fire near the Te Puru Track carpark, Belay continued.
“The three offenders then decamped into the bush where two people were taken into custody with the assistance of Delta, the police dog team.”
Police recovered the two vehicles and caravan which will undergo a forensic examination, Belay said.
“We are following strong lines of enquiry to identify and locate the remaining offenders to hold them accountable for their actions.”
