Two people have been arrested after their race from police across Auckland came to an end after their stolen vehicle caught fire on a busy highway.
Police said they were alerted at around 5:20am to a vehicle being stolen on Francis Street, Hauraki.
The Police Eagle helicopter spotted the vehicle in the Birkenhead Village shops and it then fled from police after being signalled to stop.
Police managed to spike the vehicle as it got onto the motorway, however, it continued travelling southbound through the city and onto the Southern Motorway.
The offenders then drove to Botany, where they dumped the vehicle and stole another one.
The pair then drove across South Auckland towards the airport, then along State Highway 20 through the Waterview Tunnel and towards Auckland City.
They continued onto the Southern Motorway, heading back to the Ōtara area where the vehicle was spiked by police.
As the vehicle approached the Princes Street off-ramp, it caught fire and the occupants surrendered to police.
Two people were arrested without incident and the police investigation is ongoing.
"Police are aware of the hazards these types of events can cause and we thank the public for their cooperation this morning in allowing Police to bring this incident to a close safely," a police spokesperson said.
