A man and a woman are on the run after a police pursuit in Melbourne's south.

Motorists were forced to swerve out of the way as the stolen van sped down the wrong side of Cranbourne-Frankston Road just after 7am on Monday.

Police first noticed the couple driving a stolen white van in a shopping centre carpark in Frankston.

As officers approached the Ford Econovan, the couple fled east along Cranbourne Road.

Police followed for a short distance but the pursuit was terminated due to safety reasons, Leading Senior Constable Natalie Dean said.