Car thieves ram police car in chase

A police car was rammed in a high speed chase after a "sophisticated" car theft ring broke into three car dealerships in Hamilton last night.

Senior Sergeant Eddie Carr said police were first alerted by the alarm at Fairview Motors on Te Rapa Rd just before midnight yesterday.

Police dogs tracked the thieves to a nearby street where a car had been waiting.

The thieves then broke into Admiral Cars in Frankton.

They broke into a number of cars before being disturbed and fleeing in a waiting black ute.

Shortly after alarms were activated at Ebbetts Holden on Anglesea St.

"As we were responding a black ute similar to the one described earlier was spotted ... and a following patrol car was rammed by a silver Toyota Camry sedan," said Mr Carr.

"The silver car has reversed at speed into the patrol car, disabling it."

Police managed to stop the silver car but the driver escaped in the ute.

"The pursuit continued on to SH1 towards Cambridge but had to be abandoned because the offenders' vehicle was being driven too fast to ensure public safety."

The silver sedan had been stolen from a Manukau car painter last month and the black ute was stolen from a panel beaters on Kahikatea Dr, Hamilton.

Mr Carr said the recent break-ins were very similar to others in the area.

No cars were taken but several were tampered with.

- NZPA