Nine children ranging in age from eight to 14 were caught in a stolen truck, Saskatoon police say.

Officers spotted the truck, which was stolen on Wednesday, in the 1300 block of Alberta Avenue around 7:50 p.m. CST Friday.

"The 14-year-old male driver tried to evade police after the initial stop, but was unable to get traction on the icy road surface," police said in a news release Saturday. "He got out of the vehicle and was apprehended immediately."

Officers then discovered another eight children in the truck, including:

2 boys, aged 13.

2 boys, aged 12.

1 boy, aged 10.

1 boy, aged 9.

1 girl, aged 9.

1 girl, aged 8.

Police called the provincial social services ministry's mobile crisis unit to tend to the four children 10 and under. They said they were safely taken home.

The five others were held in custody and were charged with a number of offences.

They were set to appear before a justice of the peace on Saturday.

None of the children can be named under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. No charges can be laid against children under the age of 12.