Sydney to Canberra police chase after routine traffic stop

Police vision has captured a brazen multi-hour car chase across state borders after an allegedly stolen car evaded a traffic stop.

A man has finally been arrested following a three hour police chase from inner Sydney to Canberra after he was found driving an allegedly stolen vehicle.

Officers attached to Sydney City Police Area Command were patrolling at the busy intersection of Cleveland and Bourke Streets in Surry Hills about 10pm on Tuesday, when they attempted to stop a white hatchback, believed to be stolen.

A check revealed the vehicle was allegedly stolen from Melbourne last Saturday.

A pursuit was initiated after the hatchback crashed into marked police vehicle and allegedly attempted to flee the scene, NSW Police said in a statement.

The driver of the police vehicle was not injured.

The car was followed by PolAir down the highway from Sydney to Canberra. Picture: Supplied/ NSW Police

Police vision shows the car flying down the highway. Picture: NSW Police

A short time later, the pursuit was terminated due to safety concerns.

However, about an hour later at 11pm officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command spotted the vehicle on the M7 motorway and recommenced pursuit.

Video from AirPolice shows the vehicle zooming past 18-wheelers almost two hours into the 286km journey.

Officers from multiple commands, including the Hume Police District, Monaro Police District, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command and PolAir, were involved in the pursuit before the crossed the border into the ACT.

ACT Police arrested the man about 1am Wednesday in Downer in Canberra’s northern suburbs.

The 43-year-old remains in the custody of ACT Policing at this time and is to be extradited to NSW.

Originally published as Sydney to Canberra police chase after routine traffic stop