Wild moment Aussie cop car chased by allegedly stolen vehicle (2025)

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Wild footage captured a cop car being chased by an allegedly stolen LandCruiser amid calls for more resources to tackle crime in the Northern Territory.

The video, filmed on Thursday in Palumpa, south-west of Darwin, appeared to show a police vehicle being chased by a pair of alleged car thieves.

The police truck could be seen driving down a country road with the LandCruiser in pursuit.

Both vehicles came to a stop and the LandCruiser pulled up alongside the police car while performing wheel spins, before both vehicles took off again.

At one point in the apparent game of cat and mouse, the police stopped behind the LandCruiser but then reversed to avoid the vehicle, which had also begun reversing.

NT Police said the allegedly stolen car even 'bumped' the cop car during the chase.

The LandCruiser was recovered on Saturday and two men aged 19 and 21 have been charged over the incident.

NT Police Association president Nathan Finn said the officers who were chased needed greater powers and better training.

'Our members have their hands tied when it comes to dealing with these types of incidents,' Mr Finn told The Australian.

'The current NTPF policies significantly limit most police officers from using tactical manoeuvres to stop these vehicles, often requiring the involvement of the Territory Response Group who are trained in highly specialised manoeuvres.

'Given the vast size of the Northern Territory, relying solely on one specialised unit for these situations is insufficient.

'We need specialist training for members outside of Darwin who are available to respond in a timely manner to these types of incidents.'

Mr Finn added he was 'advocating for broader access to thesetactical manoeuvres and expanded training so more officers are equipped to respond to these growing threats'.

'It’s only a matter of time before a police officer or a member of the public is seriously injured or killed,' he said.

'We cannot afford further delay – action must be taken now... unfortunately, despite our repeated calls, no progress has been made.'

The Northern Territory remains a crime hotspot, with the highest offender rates of any jurisdiction in Australia.

In July, Alice Springs was put under a three-night curfew with extra police shipped in after four off-duty officers were allegedly assaulted while walking along a walkway on their way to a hotel on Barrett Drive.

That followed a three-week curfew imposed for youth in the town centre during March after rampaging mobs effectively took over the streets of the town and forced terrified pub patrons to barricade themselves inside.

Alice Springs has seen marauding youths break the windows of scores of vehicles, businesses, government and non-government agencies.