KEY POINTS:
A vanload of young people have been arrested and charged with three vehicle thefts after a chase ended with road spikes in the Bay of Plenty yesterday.
Police pursued the stolen van for about 40 minutes from Rotorua after it was spotted about 11.45am until it was stopped "without incident" about 50km northeast at Paengaroa, Detective Senior Sergeant Mark Loper of Rotorua said.
Eight people, aged 14 to 20, in the van were arrested and charged with the theft of three vehicles which were later found burnt out.
One member of the group is facing 15 charges, including the robbery of Rotorua's Hillcrest Superette on Saturday.
- NZPA
