A 12-year-old Timaru boy has rammed a police car during a chase that reached speeds up to 140kmh in his parents' people mover.

The chase, lasting 13 minutes early on Saturday, was one of three police pursuits around Timaru at the weekend.

Police spotted the boy in the seven-seater sport van on Evans St with its lights turned off about 2.30am.

Police attempted to pull the van over, but the boy drove into the centre of town in the Stafford, Church, Theodosia streets area before heading north.

The boy lost control of the vehicle after turning left in to Blair St on Hilton Highway and was boxed in by at least three police cars. Sergeant Ian Howard said the young driver reversed into a patrol car, shunting it out of the way to escape.

He headed north on State Highway 1 to Temuka, and then drove through a number of stop signs. His journey came to an end when he drove into no-exit Bridge St. The boy then got out of the van and ran off. He was chased down by a police officer.

A police communications centre spokesman said the pursuit reached speeds of 140kmh.

The boy was taken back to the Timaru police station and his parents were called.

The boy can not be charged because of his age, but his parents' details will be given to the police's insurance company to recoup the cost of repairs to the patrol car, Mid South Canterbury area controller Dave Gaskin said yesterday.

The patrol car received damage to a front guard and wheel.

"There is nothing we can do with a 12-year-old. The parents are not criminally responsible, but perhaps civilly. Perhaps the insurance company will make a civil claim," Mr Gaskin said.

"I would hope the parents would be suitably ashamed of their son's actions."

While there would be no legal ramification for the boy, Mr Gaskin expected issues relating to his care and protection would be raised, considering he was out driving at 2.30am.

It was the second Timaru patrol car put off the road in recent weeks. A fortnight ago an officer on the way to a serious domestic incident, drove through the North-Theodosia streets intersection with lights and sirens on. An elderly driver drove into the police car.

The second pursuit occurred about 5.30pm on Saturday, after police received several reports of bad driving involving a 2007 Mercedes Benz 4WD. Valued at $120,000, it had been reported stolen from Christchurch.

Police laid spikes on the Hilton Highway in an attempt to stop the vehicle, but the driver went into the Plar Lap Raceway. Two 20-year-old Christchurch men ditched the vehicle and ran towards State Highway 8. Police chased them through several private properties before apprehending the pair.

The men face a range of charges including burglary, possession of cannabis, theft, unlawfully getting into a vehicle and unlawfully taking a vehicle.

Police are still hunting the vehicle involved in the third pursuit. A driver failed to stop for police on Otipua Rd about 12.40am yesterday. A police officer pursued the vehicle but gave up on Beaconsfield Rd due to the speed the car was travelling.

The vehicle was possibly a Holden Commodore with the registration plate beginning with the letters WM.