Police chase man for an hour

An alleged thief scrambled over fences, waded through a river and got hit by a truck as he ran from police for more than an hour.

The chase unfolded after a car was randomly stopped in Whitefield St, Kaiapoi and a passenger fled at about 6pm on Friday, police said.

Constable Aden Cawley gave chase as the fugitive ran through properties, climbed over fences and onto the Northern Motorway.

Sergeant Colin Stewart said the alleged thief was ''hit in the leg and spun around by a truck'' but was able to continue running.

Police received calls from the public as he tried to hide in properties in the Sneyd St area.

The man was eventually arrested after police cordoned off the area and sent in a police dog unit to find him.

''The offender was physically exhausted,'' Stewart said.

Cawley was wet up to his waist after running through a river during the chase but had no time to change before attending his next job.

A 23-year-old man appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Saturday. He was bailed to appear again on March 26.

He was wanted for failing to appear in the Nelson District Court on charges of theft, burglary and assault.

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Police chase man for an hour