Six children, some as young as 12, were arrested after allegedly livestreaming car thefts on TikTok.
Manawat奴 area commander Inspector Ross Grantham said they caught the group while they livestreamed their alleged car thefts about 3.30am.
Grantham said they were first alerted to the incident after a TikTok livestream was uploaded showing a vehicle crashing into a pole.
The vehicle sustained some damage before driving away.
During the livestream, the people inside the vehicle discussed stealing another car in Woodville.
Grantham said Dannevirke staff were called out, and police monitored the situation on TikTok while units converged on the area.
鈥淭he group of young people were travelling in two vehicles, both vehicles having been stolen earlier from Palm Ave in Palmerston North,鈥 Grantham said.
He said the young people later abandoned the previously damaged vehicle at Mangatainoka.
Grantham said all the young people got into one vehicle and headed back towards Woodville.
鈥淲ith their movements still being tracked, police deployed the Manawat奴 tactical dog team at the Ashhurst roundabout intersection.
鈥淧olice were successful spiking all four tyres which forced the occupants to abandon the vehicle.
鈥淭hey fled on foot across the Ashhurst bridge, where all six youths were arrested without incident.鈥
In total, three vehicles were stolen from the Palm Ave area overnight with only one vehicle being spiked.
He said this incident was an excellent example of strategic planning and the effective use of staff from the wider Manawat奴 District to prevent a pursuit occurring.
The offenders, aged between 12 and 16, are from Palmerston North and will be referred to Youth Aid.
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