Two of five young people involved in a crime spree between Invercargill and Dunedin last week were again picked up by police near Dunedin yesterday after allegedly stealing another vehicle from Invercargill.
The 14-year-old girl and 17-year-old youth, and a 13-year-old girl who was not involved in last week's incident, were picked up by Waikouaiti police about 11am yesterday when the vehicle, a Toyota Dyna, got stuck on Warrington beach.
The older girl was sent back to her family in Invercargill after last week's incident in which police allege she, the 17-year-old and three other teens stole a van from Invercargill last Monday and went on a crime spree stealing vehicles, petrol and donation boxes between Invercargill and Dunedin.
Three of the group, including the 17-year-old, were arrested in Milton last Tuesday when police pulled over a utility vehicle stolen from a rural property at Kaiwera, near Gore.
The stolen van was found burned out in Dunedin the same day and the 14-year-old girl and another 17-year-old male were taken into custody in Dunedin on Christmas Eve in Dunedin.
Police said at the time the girl was a runaway, and police and Child, Youth and Family were working together to return her to family.
However, Senior Sergeant Craig Brown said the same 14-year-old girl was allegedly involved in yesterday's incident with the Toyota Dyno, which went missing from Invercargill on Boxing Day.
CYF was now looking at placing the girl in alternative care.
The 17-year-old youth was arrested and in police custody and will appear before justices of the peace in Dunedin District Court today charged with unlawfully taking a vehicle.
Both girls have been referred to youth aid.
