Photo: Contributed - RCMP

RCMP have arrested a man believed to be a prolific offender after a dramatic chase in which a stolen SUV was pursued by helicopter and police cruisers.

A man is suspected of stealing a new BMW sport utility vehicle from a Coquitlam garage after taking the keys from the home while the owners slept.

Police say the vehicle stolen last Sunday was monitored by an RCMP helicopter that provided updates to officers on the ground as it travelled through New Westminster, Surrey and Burnaby at high speed and driving erractically.

Mounties say they attempted to stop the 2015 BMW X3 in New Westminster, but the car sped away and was involved in a minor crash.

Officers say the driver ran away after the collision, and numerous items including mail, jewelry and power tools suspected to be stolen from Coquitlam and Maple Ridge were found inside the SUV.

RCMP say 23-year-old Brandon Cumming-Hobson of no fixed address was found hiding in a residential stairwell a short time later and was arrested on Thursday by police.

The man has now been charged with numerous counts including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle and breach of probation.