Chilling result for naked thief

A man's naked ambition to flee from police has had a chilling impact.

The man was one of three people in a stolen car police were pursuing in the Napier suburb of Taradale early on Saturday morning.

Police used road spikes to stop the car in a swampy area, and the three occupants tried to get away on foot.

Inspector Dave Rose of police communications says police caught two of them - one of whom was naked.

"I'm not quite sure why he got his kit off," Insp Rose told NZ Newswire.

"But he was suffering from mild hypothermia and had to be taken to hospital."

Police are still looking for the third person.