The driver of a vehicle flagged as suspicious tried to avoid police by turning the lights off and speeding off, before he crashed into a parked car.
He and a passenger then jumped out of the vehicle and fled on foot in the early morning incident in Larne.
A 29-year-old, the driver, was later caught and arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, and having no licence and no insurance. Following questioning he was released early on Thursday evening.
Police said that at around 3am this morning a single officer on a proactive patrol observed a car “driving erratically in the Knockdhu Park area”.
“The officer immediately began to follow the vehicle, with the driver appearing to avoid police, by turning lights off, driving at an increased speed and failing to stop when signalled to do so,” the PSNI spokesperson said.
“The vehicle then subsequently collided with a parked car in the vicinity and two males who were inside the car made off on foot.
“A short time later, the driver of the vehicle was located and arrested for having no licence, no insurance and dangerous driving. He remains in custody at this time.”
Police are warning of the consequences of this type of action in a built-up resident area “could have been much more significant”.