Hawke's Bay teenager stole two keyless police cars in one night as part of crime spree

Police have recovered the stolen vehicle and a man is due to appear in court. Photo / File

An arrested teenager in Hawke's Bay was able to not once, but twice, steal keyless patrol vehicles as his week-long crime spree came to an end.

Malcolm Karauria appeared in Hastings District Court on Wednesday facing 12 charges including stealing police cars, failing to stop, obstructing police, escaping custody and other driving and motor vehicle theft charges.

The alleged offending occurred between April 9 and 14. He was remanded in custody to appear in May.

The 19-year-old's attempts to flee authorities allegedly started between Havelock North and Hastings late on Tuesday night, before being caught hours later in Manawatū-Whanganui.

A police spokeswoman said the man, who was wanted for previous alleged offending, stole an officer's car Havelock Rd about 11.40pm.

The officer was speaking to the handcuffed man in the car while it was running when the officer got out of the patrol vehicle to move him to another vehicle.

The teen then locked the doors, climbed into the driver's seat and drove away.

Police stopped the man on the Taihape-Napier Rd at the Springvale Suspension Bridge, 40km northeast of Taihape, and arrested him again.

He was placed in the second police patrol vehicle in handcuffs, but while the officer was transferring equipment from the back seat into the boot, the man again climbed into the driver's seat and stole the car.

According to police, both vehicles could be driven without keys, as they have keyless entry and start technology, and both were running while the officers held the keys outside.

Police said the second vehicle was running because the officer needed the light bar, as the car was in a secluded rural area and the officer had to pick up road spikes and process the arrest.

The officer called for assistance and the stolen vehicle was spiked at Te Moehau Junction soon after.

The man fled on foot before being found and arrested a short time later.

"These events should not have happened," a police spokesperson said.

"The work police do is unpredictable, as are the people we deal with. Events move fast, and situations can be dynamic and difficult.

"These incidents are concerning, and lessons will be learned from them."