Teens in court after fleeing police

File Photo / APN

Three teens were arrested after a police pursuit that ended after officers boxed the culprits in on a rural Welcome Bay road.

Tauranga police said the arrests were made after residents on Waitaha Rd reported the teens acting suspiciously in the area about 10.30pm on Sunday.

Senior Sergeant Carl Purcell said police found a car reported as stolen being driven down Waitaha Rd when they attempted to pull it over.

The car then turned right into Welcome Bay Rd and sped off, allegedly ignoring police lights and sirens as officers followed.

"Spikes were deployed on two occasions but they evaded the spikes both times," Mr Purcell said.

The car then turned on to Waitao Rd, where it was eventually boxed in by several police cars.

"It was a fleeing driver situation. Three were taken into custody," Mr Purcell said.

"There doesn't appear to have been alcohol involved."

The car the teens were travelling in had been stolen from a Welcome Bay address, in the same area where another stolen car had been dumped.

Mr Purcell said police would like to hear from anyone who might have seen the silver Subaru Legacy, registration CTD592, in Tauranga on Sunday.

Police said they were investigating several other offences that could be linked to the stolen car pursuit but Mr Purcell said he was unable to elaborate.

"Tauranga police are extremely grateful for the calls from the public regarding suspicious behaviour, which in this case contributed to the apprehension for these three offenders".

A 19-year-old male from Auckland appeared in Tauranga District Court yesterday on charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, failing to stop and driving in a dangerous manner.

An 18-year-old also from Auckland and a 16-year-old from Rotorua appeared charged with unlawfully getting into a stolen vehicle.

All three were remanded in custody. They will reappear today.