Eight youths arrested after interstate pursuit

Senior Sergeant Troy Hargadon said Bendigo police first began pursuing a stolen car on the Calder Freeway yesterday that was travelling well over the speed limit. 

He said police attempted to intercept the vehicle but failed to make it stop so called off the pursuit. 

After triple-zero calls from the public about a car driving "dangerously and erratically", police resumed the pursuit through Bendigo, to Inglewood, Wedderburn and then to Charlton. 

During the pursuit, Senior Sergeant Hargadon said, police tried using stop sticks to halt the car, but this was unsuccessful. 

Senior Sergeant Troy Hargadon said Bendigo police stopped pursing the car at Charlton and the next he heard the occupants of the vehicle had been arrested in South Australia. 

South Australian patrols tracked the vehicle and spiked the tyres without engaging in a police pursuit.

At about 8pm last night, South Australia police were notified about a stolen car being pursued by Victoria Police south of Bendigo, and heading towards the border.

Police, including Murray Mallee patrols, the police helicopter and a police dog, made their way to the area.  

A Murray Mallee patrol spotted the stolen Volkswagen near Peake on the Mallee Highway at about 9.30pm and, without activating lights and sirens, followed the vehicle at a distance.

Traffic was stopped on the Mallee Highway from the Dukes Highway to minimise risk to other road users.

A police helicopter positioned itself over the vehicle as it reached Sherlock.  

About five kilometres east of the Dukes Highway, road spikes were deployed.  

The tyres were successfully spiked and eight people ran from the car.  

With assistance from the air, police patrols on the ground apprehended all eight people.

Two of the youths reported minor injuries from jumping fences and were treated by ambulance crews, but there were no series injuries.

The eight youths were arrested and charged with various offences.  They were all refused police bail and are expected to appear in the Adelaide Youth Court today.

A 16-year-old from Osborne, who police will allege was the driver, has been charged with illegal use and driving disqualified.

A 15-year-old from Kilburn was charged with illegal use and breach of bail.

A 14-year-old from Findon, two 14-year-olds from Mansfield Park, a 14-year-old from Taperoo, an 11-year-old from St Marys and a 16-year-old from Port Adelaide were all charged with illegal use.

The vehicle, a black Volkswagen station wagon, was stolen during a break-in at a Prospect home on Wednesday.