Police praise bystanders for helping track stolen cars

A police chase began at around 10.50am today. Photo / File

Brave bystanders have been praised by police today after helping track the drivers of two stolen cars who rammed a police car and crashed into an innocent member of the public in Christchurch this morning.

A police chase began at around 10.50am today when a stolen Nissan Cefiro was spotted travelling north on Fitzgerald Ave and two police units signalled the driver to stop.

The driver rammed a marked patrol car before fleeing.

A plain police car took up the chase but had to abandon it after the Cefiro reached dangerously high speeds on Innes Rd.

As the pursuit was on Briggs Rd another marked patrol car saw a white Toyota Corolla that appeared to be following the pursuing plain patrol car.

When the marked patrol car signalled the Corolla to pull over and stop, that driver also took off at speed.

At the intersection of Innes Rd and Briggs Rd, the Corolla drove over a traffic island crashing into a member of the public who was parked at the intersection.

"At this point, it was discovered that this was another stolen vehicle as the driver ran off," a police statement said.

He was tracked by a police dog handler and members of the public found the 22-year-old man hiding in ditch.

The Cefiro originally pursued was found parked on Springfield Rd.

Following the description of the driver, police located and arrested another 20-year-old man nearby.

"All vehicles that crashed suffered minor to moderate damage, the member of public involved in the crash was treated at the scene for shock," police said. Sergeant Simon Sinclair thanked the members of the public who helped in capture the duo.

Both men will appear at Christchurch District Court tomorrow on unlawful taking and driving charges.