A police dog team was sent to Balclutha to locate a group of teenagers who allegedly attempted to steal utes on Monday.
Clutha-Taieri area response manager Senior Sergeant Alastair Dickie said three boys and one girl, all of Balclutha and all aged either 13 or 14 years old, allegedly attempted to steal some utility vehicles from the industrial area south of Balclutha on Monday morning.
Snr Sgt Dickie said it was lucky there were police ''Johnny-on-the-spot'' at the time of the alleged thefts.
Police pursued the teenagers attempting to steal the two vehicles.
One of the utes was crashed into a ditch while another was ''bellied'' in the attempted escape.
The teenagers fled the scene and a police dog team was sent from Dunedin, Snr Sgt Dickie said.
Two of those allegedly involved were found in the Rosebank area of Balclutha.
All four have been subsequently identified.
Two of the teenagers still had to be interviewed before any charges were laid, Snr Sgt Dickie said.
The other two were due to appear in the District Youth Court today, on charges relating to the alleged theft of the vehicles, he said.
