The Victoria Police Air Wing was called in to help with the chase in Ballarat early yesterday morning.

The pursuit began at 12.30am when a Datsun ute was seen doing burnouts and driving erratically around the Ballarat central business area.

Beginning at Curtis St, the chase continued for almost 30 minutes through Wendouree, Ballarat North and Invermay.

The pursuit ended in bushland near Creswick when the ute ran into a fence.

The four occupants of the vehicle ran away, but two were found shortly afterwards with the help of the Air Wing.

Ballarat Traffic Management Unit Leading Senior Constable Brad Fisher said three police vehicles had been involved in most of the pursuit, with the other vehicles called in to assist.

"Primarily there were three directly involved. Overall we probably had eight, but they were called in later and some were called in and sent off," Ldg Sen Const Fisher said.

No charges had been laid over the incident last night, but two Ballarat men were assisting police with their inquiries, he said.

Meanwhile, Wendouree shoppers helped arrest a man who had allegedly shoplifted at the weekend.

Ballarat Police Sergeant Andy Rigg said members of the public cornered the man near the Howitt St shopping strip late on Saturday afternoon before police arrived at the scene.

A 35-year-old Wendouree man was arrested and later charged with five shoplifting offences.

He has been remanded in custody to appear at Ballarat Magistrate's Court this morning.