Three teens have appeared in court in relation to an alleged crime spree that police say started with a ram raid in Thames and ended in a stolen vehicle being spiked in Hamilton.

Police arrested three youths aged 15, 16 and 17 on June 3.

Along with the Thames incident, the youths allegedly took part in burglaries in Patetonga and Tahuna before fleeing police and being arrested after having the vehicle they were travelling in spiked.

Inspector Willie Cuthers said police first responded to reports of a ram raid at a store in Pollen St in Thames about 2.35 am on June 3.

 “It has been confirmed that a stolen vehicle was used to gain entry to the store,” Cuthers said.

About 3.25 am, police were notified of a burglary at a service station in Patetonga, 45km away, before another burglary was reported at a service station in Tahuna, 13km further down the road.

Cuthers said these two burglaries were not ram raids.

Waikato police units that had been looking for the stolen car then saw the offenders acting suspiciously near a store in Morrinsville, about 20km from Tahuna.

 “The vehicle was signalled to stop but failed to do so and fled from police towards Hamilton,” Cuthers said.

Police pursued for a short time but abandoned the chase once the stolen car’s registration had been obtained, he said.

Police then followed at a distance, before the vehicle was spiked and came to a stop at the intersection of Naylor and Fox Sts in Hamilton where the four offenders were arrested.

“These arrests reflect the hard work Waikato police are putting in to respond to ram raids and burglaries,” Cuthers said.

“We acknowledge the concern these incidents cause to business owners and to the wider community and reiterate our commitment to holding these offenders accountable.”

“We will not tolerate this behaviour in our community and will continue to work hard to ensure our community can be safe and feel safe.”

The 16-year-old and 17-year-old appeared in Hamilton Youth Court on June 3.

The 15-year-old faces three charges of burglary, two charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and failing to stop, plus other driving-related charges. He is due to reappear in Hamilton Youth Court June 19.

The 16-year-old faces three charges of burglary, two charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and failing to stop and other driving-related charges. He is due to reappear in Hamilton Youth Court on June 21.

The 17-year-old is also due to reappear in Hamilton Youth Court on June 21, on three charges of burglary, two charges of unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and driving-related charges.