Three Southland men are in custody after allegedly stealing a car, trailer and motorbike in Queenstown last night.
Sergeant Mark Gill, of Queenstown, said the trio were seen acting suspiciously in the grounds of Wakatipu High School about 10.35pm, shortly after the owner of a Nissan Terrano reported it stolen from Hallenstein St.
Two of the men, 23-year-olds from Invercargill, were arrested on Frankton Rd about midnight while in a second Nissan Terrano.
The third man, a 25-year-old from the Ohai-Clifden area, continued on towards Kingston in the stolen vehicle towing the trailer and motorbike.
He was followed by officers from Queenstown, Lumsden and Gore, with a series of brief pursuits abandoned for safety reasons, Sgt Gill said.
After crashing and rolling the vehicle on a gravel road, the man allegedly stole a farmer's vehicle and continued evading police.
That vehicle's tyres were damaged by road spikes near Garston, but he continued driving before he was arrested near Lumsden.
The two men arrested in Queenstown were charged with unlawfully being on a property, while the third man was taken to hospital with unspecified injuries.
Sgt Gill said further charges were pending.
