Teenage runaways stole vehicles, petrol and even a donation box as part of a crime spree yesterday.
The five teenagers - a 14-year-old girl, 16-year-old male, and three 17-year-old males - are alleged to have stolen a van parked at Deep South Ice Cream, Rockdale Rd, Invercargill shortly after 5.30am.
"They then went on a bit of a crime spree," Senior Constable Jim Jordan, of Milton, said.
The teenagers are also alleged to have stolen a ute from a rural property at Kaiwera, near Gore, and entered other farms looking for fuel and "property to steal", he said.
Police then received a complaint the group walked into New World Balclutha and stole a donation box destined for a local charity.
Snr Const Jordan said he pulled over the ute while it was being driven through Milton early yesterday afternoon, and arrested two 17-year-olds and a 16-year-old .
The trio face a raft of charges including taking vehicles, possessing cannabis utensils, theft and driving while disqualified, and would appear in court next month.
The pair travelling in the van - a 17-year-old male and the 14-year-old girl, remained at large, he said.
The van, which sports a distinctive blue trim along the bumper, was spotted in Dunedin yesterday.
Anyone who has seen the white Toyota van, registration ERE697, was urged to contact police, he said.
Police were still receiving reports of other property thefts, and more charges were likely to be laid, he said.
