Four arrested over stolen cars

File photo / NZ Herald

Four people have been arrested following two separate incidents involving stolen cars in the North Shore overnight.

In one incident a couple woke to noises outside their Devonport property, about 3am, North Shore Area Commander Shanan Gray said.

They heard a car drive off and then realised their son's Mazda Familia station wagon had just been stolen.

North Shore police spotted the vehicle, which failed to stop, on Lake Road .

They pursued the vehicle as the driver went onto the motorway, heading south.

"What the fleeing driver didn't realise was that the motorway was shut at Mt Wellington, because of roadworks," Mr Gray said.

The driver was forced to exit the motorway and was stopped by spikes on the Ellerslie Panmure Highway.

A man and woman, both aged 19, were arrested at the scene, he said.

The man was charged with driving while disqualified, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, and failing to stop.

The woman was charged with unlawfully getting into motor vehicle.

In the second incident, a police dog handler noticed a suspicious vehicle on the motorway, travelling towards the Harbour Bridge, about 1am.

The car had been stolen from Whangarei, Mr Gray said.

"We sent additional police units to assist and officers stopped the car at Tristram Avenue.

"When we searched the car we found a quantity of methamphetamine, as well as drug paraphernalia," he said.

A 19-year-old woman has been charged with receiving stolen property and drug-related charges.

Her 27-year-male passenger has been charged with unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle.