Three people have been charged after a dramatic two-hour crime spree in Melbourne's south-east.

The series of alleged thefts and carjackings began just after 12.30pm on Monday across the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, with police hunting for the suspects for the next two hours.

Police allege the three people stole a number of cars before they crashed into a truck on the South Gippsland Highway in Cranbourne.

CCTV footage shows a blue ute speeding the wrong way down the highway in Cranbourne about 2.30pm with police giving chase.