Police are searching for three people in North Dunedin after a Palmerston petrol drive-off turned into a vehicle pursuit this morning.
A police spokeswoman said officers attempted to stop a vehicle Cumberland St, Dunedin, near the motorway.
The occupants were believed to have driven off without paying for petrol in Palmerston.
The car failed to stop.
Police pursued the vehicle, but abandoned the search for "safety reasons" shortly after, she said.
The vehicle was then abandoned in Dundas St near North Ground and the people in the vehicle fled on foot.
Police were "actively searching" for them.
