A youth is in custody and police are continuing to search for several other people of interest following a series of incidents in Christchurch  that included vehicle thefts and an attempted carjacking.

As first reported by chrislynchmedia.com Senior Sergeant Hamish Keer-Keer of the Canterbury District Command Centre said officers used a police helicopter to assist ground units in tracking the offenders, who stole at least one vehicle.

During enquiries, the stolen vehicle was found abandoned on Lincoln Road.

The offenders had left the scene in a second vehicle.

Do you know more or have video? Contact [email protected]

At around 5.30pm, police located that second vehicle on Tiora Place and took a youth into custody at the scene.

The youth is due to appear in Christchurch Youth Court at a later date.

Shortly afterwards, the helicopter was stood down for the evening due to visibility.

At around 5.45pm, police were called to Auburn Avenue after a report that an offender had attempted to pull a person from their car in a bid to take the vehicle.

The offender fled the area before police arrived.

The victim was not injured but was left shaken by the incident and is being provided with support, Senior Sergeant Keer Keer said.

Police enquiries to identify and locate the remaining alleged offenders are ongoing.

“We will be out looking for these offenders and will continue to do so until they are apprehended and put before the courts,” Senior Sergeant Keer-Keer said.