Eleven young people and one adult have been found inside a stolen vehicle following a police pursuit through the Alice Springs CBD overnight, Northern Territory Police says.
Police said five vehicles were stolen from the Peter Sitzler Building on North Stuart Highway late Sunday night after the government building was unlawfully entered.
Three of the vehicles have since been recovered, however, two white Toyotas, marked with NT government logos, remain outstanding.
Southern Watch Commander Allan Milner said a police pursuit ensued through the centre of town for about 600 metres until a tyre deflation device was used on one of the vehicles.
"Then the vehicle pulled over," Senior Sergeant Milner said.
"From that vehicle, there was actually one adult and 11 youths.
"Of those, eight were arrested and taken to the Alice Springs police watch house."
No charges laid, arrests to be reviewed
At about 11.15pm on Sunday, police were notified of a break-in at the Peter Sitzler Building and determined that five vehicles had been stolen, Senior Sergeant Milner said.
"We called out a number of resources and we targeted a vehicle at the time," he said.
"We were able to recover three of those five vehicles."
Senior Sergeant Milner said charges had not yet been laid, however, the arrests would be reviewed Monday morning.
"We're dealing with [young people] between 13 and 18," he said.
The outstanding vehicles, a Toyota Yaris and Prado, had been seen driving through town dangerously and at high speeds overnight but had since "gone to ground", Senior Sergeant Milner said.
He urged the public to remain vigilant and to call the police or contact CrimeStoppers if the vehicles were sighted.
