Mum surprised by Manurewa police pursuit

Four youths were taken into custody after they were spotted in a stolen car in Manurewa today. PHOTO/Michael Cunningham

A stolen car of runaway youths followed in hot pursuit by police surprised an Auckland mum and her children today.

Jasmine Harris was walking with her pram when the police chase erupted in front of her. A black Skyline came to a stop after it had its tyres spiked. Four young men jumped out and ran for it, Harris said.

A police car arrived and officers chased after the men with a dog, she said.

"I was OK but I think my 3-year-old got a bit of a fright when the police dog jumped out of the car.

"The guys got out of the car pretty fast and took off pretty fast

"I'm lucky I was on the other side of the road."

A police spokeswoman said police were alerted to a suspicious vehicle at a Henderson park around 11.30am. Police abandoned a pursuit of the vehicle due to the dangerous nature of the driving.

The vehicle was then followed on the Southern Motorway, the Police Eagle helicopter assisted and spikes were deployed at key intersections.

The vehicle stopped at Stratford Rd, Manurewa.

Four offenders fled the vehicle and Police apprehended three.

The driver fled in another vehicle and heading along SH 20 towards Mt Roskill but got stuck in traffic on Sandringham Rd, the spokeswoman said.

"The driver was observed running through properties and took another car."

The driver was taken into custody.

All four youth offenders were spoken to at a Counties Manukau station.