GPS catches out Auckland car thieves

A car owners global positioning system (GPS) unit helped police track a stolen car in Auckland overnight.

Police were told a Nissan Skyline had been stolen from an address in the Auckland suburb of Mt Albert about 4am.

With the help of GPS coordinates given by the car's owner police tracked the three offenders to Royal Oak.

The offenders fled the scene sparking a pursuit which police were forced to abandon due to speed and weather conditions, police said.

After avoiding road spikes in Onehunga the car was found, again using GPS coordinates, abandoned in Mt Wellington.

The three offenders were later found with the help of a "resourceful" police communicator.

- NZPA