Police cars stolen, van rammed

A teenager who stole two police cars and led police on pursuits across the North Island was allegedly wanted for various offences involving thefts of cars during the lockdown.

Malcolm Karauria, 19, appeared in the Hastings District Court yesterday facing various charges in relation to the theft of the police cars. Stuff understands Karauria was wanted in relation to alleged thefts that occurred during the lockdown.

The first, last Thursday, involved the theft of a car. Karauria is understood to have filmed himself doing doughnuts in the car and speeding through Napier before crashing near Hawke’s Bay Airport.

The second, on Sunday, involved Karauria allegedly fleeing from police in another stolen car. He drove towards oncoming traffic and rammed a pursuing police car twice. Police abandoned the pursuit and Karauria allegedly stole another car and fled.

The following day, he allegedly stole another car and made an unsuccessful attempt to steal cigarettes from a service station.

On Tuesday, he was allegedly seen driving the stolen car in Napier. Police tried to pull him over but he sped away and the pursuit was abandoned.

About midnight, police found Karauria at a Havelock North property. He was arrested, handcuffed and put in the back of a patrol car.

When the officer got out of the car to move Karauria into another car, Karauria moved into the driver’s seat. The car was still running and he sped away. He had moved the handcuffs to the front of his body and was driving while handcuffed.

He is understood to have crashed the car at speed into a police prison van before leading police on a high-speed chase through Hastings.

Karauria drove towards Napier-Taihape Rd, managing to evade police until he was stopped at the Springvale Suspension

Bridge, 40 kilometres northeast of Taihape.

Here he was placed into the back of another police car. But while the officer left the car to retrieve road spikes Karauria jumped into the driver’s seat. That car was also running and Karauria sped away again.

The officer called for help and the police car was found by another patrol car heading towards Whanganui. Karauria ran across farmland but was tracked by a police dog and arrested.

Karauria made a brief appearance in court yesterday.

He did not seek bail or name suppression and was remanded in custody without plea until May.

He faces 12 charges, including two for unlawfully taking police vehicles.

A police spokesman said the police cars had ‘‘keyless entry/start technology’’.

‘‘These two incidents are concerning, and there are lessons to be learnt from them,’’ he said.