Two youths and an 18-year-old have been taken into custody following a series of incidents between Heathcote and Belfast this morning.

Police responded to reports of antisocial road-user behaviour, where a driver was damaging a field at Heathcote Domain, off Port Hills Road, around 6:50am.

Christchurch Metro Area Commander Superintendent Lane Todd said the driver fled and is believed to have continued through the Lyttelton tunnel to Sumner where they allegedly were confronted by a person in Sumner stealing an item, before continuing.

“Following this, police received reports of speeding, dangerous driving, and threatening behaviour around Linwood and the Christchurch northern suburbs, where the vehicle eventually entered the Northern Motorway.

Chris Lynch Media has received numerous reports of a white Subaru Station Wagon travelling on the wrong side of the motorway.

“Police monitored the vehicle, and blocked the southbound lane to prevent collisions as the vehicle travelled northbound in the southbound lane.”

The vehicle continued to Belfast, near Belfast School, and the school went into lockdown as a precaution between 9:15am and 9:30am. 

Spikes were successfully deployed on old Main North Road, and the vehicle brought to a stop on Chaney’s off-ramp around 9:35am.

 No one was injured in these incidents.

 Two youths and an 18-year-old man were taken into custody, the youths will be referred to youth services.

 An 18-year-old man is due to appear in Christchurch District Court in due course, charges are being considered.

Superintendent Lane Todd “we are committed to keeping our community safe and we will not tolerate dangerous behaviour on our roads, antisocial behaviour, or theft.

Fortunately  no one was injured in this incident and thanks to great work by attending officers the three offenders were taken into custody.”