Police chase keeps Far North officers busy

Officers with sniffer dogs are tracking the remaining offenders. Photo / File

Offenders in two stolen cars led police on a chase through the Far North this evening.

Inspector Tony Wakelin of the northern communications centre said one of the vehicles rammed a police patrol car in an unsuccessful attempt to escape.

The vehicles, which were stolen from the area earlier in the day, were first spotted on State Highway 1 at Pakaraka at 7.41pm.

Police pursued them for a few minutes before abandoning the chase because it was becoming dangerous.

Officers continued searching back streets for the cars and spotted one of them in an alleyway in the town of Ohaeawai.

"They saw us and just rammed the back of the patrol car," Wakelin said.

The vehicle continue on but drove straight over strategically placed road spikes on nearby Te Pua Rd, destroying its tires.

The five occupants then fled on foot and two of them were apprehended.

Officers with sniffer dogs were tracking the remaining three while inquiries were continuing to establish the whereabouts of the other vehicle and its occupants.