A 17-year-old Aucklander has been charged after a spate of shoplifting, which police say added up to $10,000 worth of items.

He was tracked down after allegedly bagging $800 worth of groceries in one haul.

Initially, police said there was a report of a male shoplifting from a Manukau supermarket at 9am on Saturday, May 24.

Counties Manukau central area prevention manager inspector Warrick Adkin said the youth allegedly took a large amount of meat products and fled the scene in a vehicle.

Attending officers made inquiries about the vehicle, and discovered it was likely that the same person had been involved in shoplifting at a Three Kings supermarket only an hour earlier.

“Police officers immediately responded in an attempt to locate this male and the vehicle,” said Adkin.

“Not long after, the vehicle was located a short distance away, as it was about to enter State Highway 20.”

Police said they took a youth into custody while about $800 worth of groceries were located and returned to the store.

“Further enquiries revealed this male has allegedly been involved in numerous shoplifting or theft incidents this year, totalling several thousand dollars.

“We are pleased to have brought this spree to an end and for this male to be held accountable for his actions. We will not tolerate such brazen criminal offending.”

Police said the 17-year-old appeared in the Manukau Youth Court on May 24, charged with multiple shoplifting offences.