A burglar was arrested by Waikato Police after they received several complaints from the public about his driving on Wednesday.

District Road Policing Inspector Freda Grace says the incident shows just how valuable the public's assistance can be in not only for keeping the roads safe but the community too.

Police responded to calls from the public about the manner in which a man was driving a Subaru car in Ngaruawahia at about 5.30pm on Wednesday.

'Officers came across the car containing four occupants on Great South Road in Horotiu and attempted to stop it but the driver refused to pull over,” says Freda.

'He tried to get on to State Highway One/Mangaharakeke Drive and drove on the wrong side of the road to avoid police, but our staff managed to stop the car and then caught the driver after he attempted to flee on foot.”

She says it wasn't long before police realised the 24-year-old forbidden driver was of interest for more than bad driving.

As they processed him for excess breath alcohol and his failing to stop, another complaint linked the man's car to a collision on the nearby SH23 between Raglan and Hamilton.

'A further complaint linked a near collision with the man's car being on the wrong side of the road in Ngaruawahia and the burglary of a home on Ngaruawahia's Waipa Esplanade.

'A search of the car ended up in the recovery of a game console, television and frozen meat taken in the burglary.”

The man now faces a variety of driving and dishonesty related charges.

Freda believes Wednesday's arrest highlights the value of the public seeing something and doing something – and that something is ringing 111 in a timely and accurate manner.

Over the Christmas holiday period Waikato Police received 1,210 driving complaints – also known as 1u's – from the public, which was up 237 received during the 2014/15 Christmas holiday period.

'This indicates to us that whereas the public have bought into the message around roads being a social environment, offenders haven't.

'We encourage the public to report offending, not just on our roads but in our community as well by ringing 111 or *555 to report driving complaints. Your eyes and ears can help us reduce crime,” says Freda.