Two men, aged 18 and 22, reached speeds of up to 180km/h during a three-day joy ride in the Hunter this week.
About 5am on Wednesday 5 July, officers from Newcastle City Police District observed a white Hyundai Tucson on Harriet Street, Waratah, driving in a manner dangerous.
Checks on the vehicle revealed it was reported stolen during a break and enter at a Cameron Park address 24 hours earlier.
Then about 4.30am on Thursday 6 July, the SUV was sighted by police travelling at speeds up to 180km/h on the M1 Pacific Motorway at Wahroonga.
A pursuit was initiated by officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command.
However, it was terminated due to safety concerns.
Three hours later, police spotted the Tucson on Croudace Bay Road, Belmont, before it collided into a police vehicle and fled the scene.
A second pursuit was initiated before later being terminated.
The Hyundai was located shortly afterwards at Gari Street in Charlestown, where police were told two men were seen abandoning the SUV and running into nearby bushland.
With the assistance of the dog unit, officers from Lake Macquarie Police District located and arrested two men at Park Street, Charlestown.
They were then taken to Belmont Police Station.
The teenager was charged with take and drive conveyance without consent of owner.
The 22-year-old was charged with be carried in conveyance taken without consent of owner.
Both men were also charged with breach of bail and subsequently refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court on Friday 7 July.
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