Three arrested 45 minutes after sleeping man attacked, van and phone stolen

Three people - including a youth - were arrested 45 minutes after a man was attacked in his van while he slept.

The attack, which left the victim with a bloody nose, happened around 2am near Lake Puketirini, Huntly, on Wednesday.

Police said the victim called from a service station, saying four people wearing balaclavas had attacked him, then stolen his van and phone.

"Responding officers located the van on Harris Street shortly after 2:30am, and set up road spikes around Tainui Bridge Road," Senior Sergeant Mary Van Dongen said.

The van was stopped on Great South Road and three occupants arrested at about 2:45am, she said, with help from a police dog unit.

"It's pleasing to have been able to locate and arrest people for this so quickly in order to hold them to account."

Two of the alleged attackers, aged 20 and 18, were due in Hamilton District Court on aggravated robbery charges, and the third in Hamilton Youth Court on an aggravated robbery charge.

Police did not say if they were still looking for a fourth.