Young criminals are leaving police in their dust thanks to an updated police pursuit policy that forbids officers from chasing them down.

While it has emboldened offenders and left police frustrated, the change has reduced the number of fatal and serious crashes involving fleeing drivers, according to the Police Association.

Since February 1, for example, Waikato police officers have arrested more than 50 people aged 12 to 18 years old, and more than 500 vehicles have been stolen.

The young people were targetting Mazda Demios and Toyota Aquas, and using them for other offending, such as ram-raid style burglaries.

Stuff understands police officers are frustrated by their inability to pursue offenders, who go on to commit multiple offences without being caught.

Police Association president Chris Cahill said the updated policy had reduced fatal crashes and serious injuries involving fleeing drivers, but had unintended consequence of emboldening some offenders.

The revised fleeing driver policy, released in December 2020, prioritised safety over the immediate apprehension.

When a fleeing driver was not stopped, police conducted follow-up investigations to identify the vehicle and arrest the driver at a later time.

'Our members raise a concern at the pursuit policy as it stands,” Cahill said.

'It would appear that has led to a change in youth behaviour, who are more likely to engage in dangerous driving behaviour, often in stolen cars.”

He said youth were likely to believe police did not have the ability to pursue them, which meant their risk of being found was low.

'The question would be if [police officers] have the resources to follow up on them afterwards. No, I don't think they do, they are way too busy.”

'We are still supportive of the policy because of the numbers of serious injuries and fatals has reduced massively.”

In 2019, there were eight deaths and 53 serious injuries and in 2020 there were three deaths and 37 serious injuries from pursuits of fleeing drivers.

'If someone doesn't stop when you signal them to stop, how does chasing them change that? They very rarely then stop when you pursue them.

'That's a big, big plus. But I don't dispute it causes a level of frustration with some members.”

Meanwhile on the streets, police were called to a burglary at a service station in St Andrews at 4am last Monday.

Two offenders were seen smashing the doors before getting inside, stealing the cash till and beverages and fleeing in a stolen Toyota Aqua.

A dairy next door was also targeted, but the pair were unable to get inside.

About 15 minutes later, the same group broke into a vape store on Collingwood St in Hamilton central.

That afternoon police were called about a group attempting to break into vehicles on Lake Rd and Somerset St in Frankton around 3.15pm.

Officers arrested two people, one aged 12 and the other 14 years old.

The 12-year-old boy was found with items linked to other break-ins, including a vape shop in Hamilton on Sunday night.

They stole various items before fleeing in another vehicle.

Officers located a 16-year-old at a property shortly after. He was taken into custody and faced charges of burglary and unlawfully taking a motor vehicle.

He was charged with five commercial burglaries and failing to stop for police.

The 14-year-old was charged with unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, unlawful interference, and possession of instruments.

The young people were referred to Youth Aid Services and would be followed up by youth engagement teams.

Waikato police have set up a dedicated team to investigate these types of incidents, Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Saunders said in a statement.

People were encouraged to report suspicious activity to police immediately on 111.

-Stuff/Rachel Moore.