Police have arrested five teenage boys in the Far North alleged to have fled in a stolen car and mowed down three cows.

Police received reports of a Toyota Starlet driving dangerously on State Highway One in Kauri just before 8am this morning.

Police say they found the car, requested it stop, but the driver took off and a pursuit began.

After hitting three cows being moved by a farmer on Hariru Road, the driver kept going, but crashed a short distance down the road and the five alleged offenders took off, police said. 

Three were caught nearby, one was found in the boot of another car, and the fifth was tracked by a Police dog.

The teenagers, aged 14 and 15, are being held in custody and are likely to appear in the Kaikohe Youth Court tomorrow.

The injured cows were euthanised by the farmer.