Police have arrested five teenage boys following a spate of vehicle thefts in Canterbury this afternoon, which culminated in a crash involving an innocent motorist near the Lyttelton Tunnel.

Authorities are investigating whether the boys are connected to several serious incidents that occurred in Christchurch over the past week.

The incident began around 1:30 pm when police were alerted to four balaclava-clad men in Upper Riccarton, abandoning a vehicle on Field Terrace before getting into a second car.

Shortly before 2:00 pm, police received reports of another stolen vehicle being driven erratically in the Riccarton area. Multiple 111 calls reported the vehicle traveling at excessive speeds and driving on the wrong side of the road.

A significant response was launched, involving specialist police units. A helicopter was also deployed to search for and monitor the vehicle, tracking it from the city to Kaiapoi and through North Canterbury before it headed back towards Christchurch.

Canterbury Metro Commander Superintendent Lane Todd said that due to the dangerous manner of driving, police did not pursue the vehicle on the ground but continued to track it from the air.

As the vehicle approached Tunnel Road, a red light at the Lyttelton Tunnel stopped traffic, forcing the vehicle, which was on the wrong side of the road, to make a U-turn. The stolen car then collided with another vehicle, just before 4:00 pm.

Four teenage boys were taken into custody at the scene, and a fifth was arrested at a New Brighton address around 3:30 pm. The boys are aged between 13 and 15.

Tunnel Road is currently closed between Port Hills Road and Bridle Path Road. No serious injuries have been reported.