Police have charged two teenagers over the theft of a car and subsequent crash in the Lake Macquarie area this week.

Between January 31 and February 1, a Nissan Tida sedan was stolen from a property on Rosemount Close in Eleebana.

The theft was reported to officers at Lake Macquarie Local Area Command, who commenced an investigation.

About 11pm yesterday (Tuesday 3 February), the car was used in a fail-to-pay incident at a petrol station on the Pacific Highway at Belmont.

A short time later, the Nissan crashed into another vehicle on the Pacific Highway near Bali Street at Blacksmiths.

The two teenagers in the Nissan attempted to run from the area. A number of witnesses were able to detain one of the males until police arrived. The other was tracked down by officers using a police dog.

The pair, aged 17 and 15, was taken to Charlestown Police Station.

The older male, who was driving the Nissan, returned a breath test reading of 0.085 and was found to be unlicensed. He was charged with car theft and obtain benefit by deception.

He has been granted conditional bail to appear at a children’s court on February 23.

The 15-year-old was charged with a first instance warrant, carry in conveyance and obtain benefit by deception. He was refused bail to appear at a children’s court today.