A 44-year-old Whangamata man has been arrested after he allegedly took a police patrol car on a joy ride in the Coromandel.
Police say the man has been charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and was due to appear in court later this week.
The car was allegedly taken about 11.30pm on Saturday during a routine traffic stop for speeding.
Police said a passenger got out of the vehicle and allegedly sped off in the officer's car.
It was found several hours later in Opoutere, about 14km north of Whangamata.