Four Winnipeg teenagers have been charged in what police say was an online dating scam that ended with a man's vehicle being stolen.

Police say the teens created a fake profile on a popular dating website with the sole intent of luring a person to a location for a robbery.

Officers were called on Monday by a 24-year-old man who said he had made arrangements to meet a woman he'd met on a dating website.

They say he was still in his vehicle when a woman approached him, followed by three youths who pepper-sprayed him and threatened him.

All four then fled in his vehicle and with his personal belongings.

Officers stopped the vehicle downtown, but it took off again and police chased it.

It eventually stopped again and four teens were arrested after a brief foot chase. Pepper spray was found in the vehicle.

Two 15-year-olds and two 16-year-olds are charged with robbery and unauthorized possession of a weapon.