Cops arrest boys after joyride ends

A joyride around Putaruru and Tokoroa at speeds exceeding 140kmh ended when police apprehended the alleged offenders early on Sunday morning.

A 12-year-old allegedly stole his mother’s car and police monitored the vehicle after the boy’s mother reported it stolen about 1.30am on Sunday.

Tokoroa Police Senior Sergeant Graeme Hill said his staff did not set off in pursuit of the 12-year-old driver who was driving with two male friends, aged 12 and 15, for fear of what being chased might cause the youngster to do.

‘‘We were not pursuing them. We were monitoring them from Putaruru . . . They were coming from Putaruru and they were trying to evade police. That is why we did not pursue it. They were a danger to my staff . . . I was concerned for my staff and members of the public. It was crazy that they could not comprehend going on a joyride from Putaruru,’’ he said.

The 15-year-old and the car owner’s son took it in turns to drive around Tokoroa and State Highway 1.

The boy and his two friends were arrested after police found them with the car on a side road off State Highway 1 about 2.30am.