KEY POINTS:
Police had to use road spikes to stop a car suspected of being involved in two ram raids in Christchurch overnight.
Two people have been arrested and police are working to establish whether the same alleged offenders were involved in both crimes.
Inspector John Doherty, of police southern communications, said there was a ram raid at the Super Value supermarket in Ferry Rd about 4am, followed five minutes later by another, at the BP service station on Linwood Avenue.
At 4.42am, a Suzuki stationwagon with damage to its bonnet was seen in the central city. When it failed to stop, police pursued it.
Mr Doherty said the pursuit lasted seven minutes but was not at high speed.
Road spikes were put out and they managed to deflate the car's front tyres but the driver carried on. The spikes were used again, by which time the tyres were shredded and the car was on its rims.
"The car engine had difficulty maintaining any speed and could be heard to be under severe stress as the metal dug into the road and the vehicle slowed to 10km/h before stopping," he said.
A small amount of food and property, believed to be from the service station, was found in the car which police allege was stolen.
Mr Doherty said they were trying to establish whether the vehicle was also involved in the supermarket raid.
Details about the alleged offenders and the charges they will face are not yet available.
- NZPA
