Eight young people, aged between 12 and 15, have been caught in a stolen car after a police chase across West Auckland.

Waitematā West Area Response Manager, Acting Senior Sergeant Matt Bartlett said a police unit first saw the stolen Toyota travelling through the Massey area at around 3.20am.

Bartlett said the Eagle helicopter was deployed to track the car from the skies as a dog unit followed their path on SH1.

The vehicle failed to stop after it travelled through the Waterview Tunnel.

“It took off at speed and Police opted not to pursue, as it continued along the South-Western Motorway towards Blockhouse Bay,” Bartlett said.

The vehicle only stopped after it was successfully spiked on South Western Motorway (SH20) near the Hillsborough off-ramp.

The eight youths were taken into custody.

“Safely resolving a fleeing incident, allegedly involving eight youths who were all too young to drive, was a top priority for Waitematā Police in the early hours of this morning,” Bartlett said.

“It’s a good result all round and thankfully no one was injured.”