Police search in Otago after alleged Dunedin hit-and-run, cars stolen

A man in an electric mobility scooter is attended at the scene by witnesses who saw him get clipped by a stolen car which then sped off on Saturday. Photo / ODT

Police are investigating an alleged hit-and-run and multiple stolen vehicles in Dunedin as a driver continues to evade police around Otago.

A police spokeswoman said a vehicle of interest, reported as stolen, was located in Oamaru at 1.10am on Saturday at the intersection of Severn St and Wansbeck St. However, the driver fled police and headed south towards Dunedin.

Another police unit saw the same vehicle on the Northern Motorway around 2am. It was then spotted on Dunedin's one-way system driving in the wrong direction.

Road spikes were deployed on Cumberland St and one wheel was spiked about 3am. However, the vehicle continued to evade police and a report was received of it going through a red light on George St.

Pursuing units were stood down at about 3.10am.

The vehicle is believed to have headed towards Mosgiel on State Highway 1.

A number of cars were stolen in the Dunedin area since the driver evaded officers, though police reiterated on Sunday they could not confirm if they the incidents were connected at this stage.

A Glen Rd resident said his partner's Black Mazda Demio was stolen in the early hours of the morning. He believed the incident had probably taken place between 3am and 4am.

Whoever took it had likely broken in through the back window, as tinted glass had been left on the street.

His partner was first notified of the theft by police, who called her and asked if she owned the car and if she knew where it was.

An officer from Balclutha had since called with news that the car had been retrieved and was being kept for forensics, he said.

Another woman later said she saw a hit-and-run incident in South Dunedin in which a man on a mobility scooter was struck by a white Mazda Capalla.

The vehicle was flagged as stolen by a neighbour of the owner on social media. The incident happened near the Andersons Bay Rd and Portobello Rd roundabout.

The witness said she had stopped for the mobility scooter at the pedestrian crossing, then out of the corner of her eye saw him get hit by the white car.

She said another woman at the scene took down the number plate of the vehicle, which immediately sped away.

The man was physically unharmed and his scooter was damaged although he was still able to ride it. He was clearly shaken but "just wanted to get on with it".

She said when she called police they seemed busy and uninterested.

"It didn't feel right there was no after support for [the man]" she said.

The incident was "disappointing and shocking" - especially because the driver of the stolen car left immediately without checking for injuries, she said.

She felt there was more crime in the Dunedin area because people were struggling and there was not enough support.

Samii Kruskopf said she was notified by her neighbour about 2pm that her car had been stolen. Three people with masks in a white Mazda Capella parked up on her St Kilda street and took her Mazda Demio.

They dumped it a few blocks away outside Tahuna Intermediate where they stole another Mazda, this time a Familia. They took off speeding north with police tailing them.

Her car was towed and the extent of damage was being assessed.

She hoped for support for the man involved in the hit-and-run, compensation for those who had their cars stolen and remorse from the offenders for their reckless behaviour.

A police spokeswoman confirmed they were investigating the alleged hit-and-run in relation to the spate of car thefts, but no arrests had yet been made. - ODT