Saga of social media dates ends with eight young people arrested and stolen cars crashed

Eight young people were arrested after two police chases.

A police pursuit of a stolen car has resulted eight youths facing charges after a saga involving a social media date and four wrecked cars.

Three Auckland boys arranged a date with a Taupo girl they had met on social media.

At about 4am on Saturday morning in Tokoroa police began a pursuit of a Honda Accord stolen from Hamilton.

Police abandoned the chase but then found the car about 20km north of Taupo.

It was stopped with road spikes, and the car rolled onto its roof.

Senior Sergeant Tony Jeurissen said they arrested three "juveniles from Auckland" aged 15, 14 and 12.

Police then found the trio had stolen two other cars travelling from Auckland to Hamilton.

The 16-year-old girl became impatient waiting for them so she removed her electronic monitoring bracelet on Sunday morning.

Police then searched for her and she was arrested.

Jeurissen said she was found with four other boys in a stolen vehicle, which had crashed.

Police were helped by a passing motorist in apprehending the five juveniles.

The 16-year-old girl was put into a police car, before she hatched a plan to escape in it.

"She has driven the police car a very short distance and crashed the patrol car into the side of a motor car belonging to the member of the public assisting police staff."

"During police investigations, it has become evident that all eight juveniles involved in both these incidents know one another."