Two 18-year-old males were yesterday remanded in custody by consent, while a 17-year-old female was released on bail.
The three were jointly charged with unlawfully taking a vehicle from Dunedin on Tuesday, stealing vehicle registration plates from Green Island, stealing petrol from Mobil Anzac on Wednesday, two counts of interfering with a motor vehicle at Waikouaiti, and a charge of unlawfully taking a vehicle from Hampden.
One man was also charged with failing to stop for police, driving while disqualified, reckless driving and throwing an object at police with reckless disregard for their safety.
The other man was also charged with dangerous driving, driving while forbidden and breaching bail, while the woman was also charged with failing to stop for police, driving while disqualified and dangerous driving.
Police said the trio stole a Toyota Corolla from Clyde St in Dunedin on Tuesday and then stole a set of number plates from a vehicle parked in Green Island and put them on the vehicle.
They drove around the greater Dunedin area breaking into vehicles and stealing items.
Police were yet to collate those offences.
On Thursday night, they drove into a service station in Dunedin and filled the Corolla with petrol, driving off without paying.
They headed north intending to drive to Timaru.
On the way, they stopped in Hampden and discovered keys left in a Mazda station-wagon.
One of the group drove off in that car and both vehicles continued to Oamaru.
Police tried to stop the Corolla, which was travelling without headlights, at 11.10pm in central Oamaru but the driver failed to stop and a 60km pursuit ensued with the car heading south, via Kakanui.
It was established the car had been stolen from Dunedin and additional police were called out from surrounding stations and also from Dunedin.
Road spikes were avoided south of Maheno and the vehicle reached a maximum speed of 150kmh.
Another car - the Mazda - was observed shadowing the pursuit.
After about 30 minutes, the Corolla blew its gearbox and stopped at Katiki and a man and woman were taken into custody.
At that time, the vehicle shadowing the pursuit had driven past and was identified as the stolen car from Hampden.
It was signalled to stop and the male occupant pulled over without incident.
