At least one parked car has been written off, and another badly damaged, after a woman allegedly drunk stole a police car last night.

As first reported by Chris Lynch Media, police were notified of an allegedly intoxicated woman attempting to drive on Wainoni Road in Avondale about 7.10pm.

When police arrived she refused to be breath tested and was placed in the back of a police vehicle.

As the officer walked around to the driver’s door, the woman climbed into the front and stole the vehicle before smashing it into several parked cars.

The owner of two smashed cars says his biggest issue now is insurance and settlement.

He says both his cars have been damaged and “we don’t have any alternatives.”

“It could take weeks for a resolution and the customer service representative at IAG could not give an answer as to whether we would have rental cars in the meantime.”

A police spokeswoman earlier said the police car was also badly damaged.

A 42-year-old woman will appear in the Christchurch District Court on Friday charged with escaping from police custody, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, and driving in a dangerous manner.