A one-lane bridge was severely damaged after two teenagers in a stolen car slammed into the railings while trying to make off with stolen property.
Senior Sergeant John Fagan said the duo allegedly stole a car from Briden Dr in Tikipunga where they also had burgled a few houses.
The two males were then disturbed by residents at Ngunguru. As they drove off they crashed on a one-lane bridge about 1.23am yesterday.
Mr Fagan said the duo ran off and allegedly tried to break into two other vehicles before they managed to get into the third one they tried.
However a police dog and handler had been called and found the 16-year-olds inside a car.
They were arrested and spent the night in police custody before they appeared in Youth Court yesterday.
Mr Fagan said a wooden railing from the bridge had punctured the rear door and gone through the car.
"If there was a third or fourth person in the car it could have been a totally different story."
He said some stolen property had been recovered and asked property owners in the Briden Dr area and residents of Ngunguru to check their properties and vehicles and report anything amiss to Whangarei police.