Children arrested after chase

AUCKLAND: Four children aged between 12 and 14 are in custody after a police chase across west Auckland early yesterday.

A motorist travelling on the same stretch of highway moments before the chase came to a dramatic end described seeing sparks flying from rims as the wanted vehicle continued driving on shredded tyres.

A police spokesman said police at 3.50am spotted a stolen vehicle on Te Atatu Rd which had been involved in at least three reported burglaries earlier in the evening.

Police followed the vehicle at a distance through the Waitakere and Kumeu areas before the Eagle helicopter took over tracking it from the air.

The vehicle was spiked but the driver continued, pursued by police before being forced to stop on the Northwestern Motorway at Waterview where police cars had blocked the road.

A spokesman said four youths, aged 12, 13 and 14 were in custody and charges would follow. They would include burglary and aggravated burglary. The four were due to appear in the Waitakere Youth Court.

Noone was injured in the chase. — The New Zealand Herald