Children in stolen cars appear to have deliberately hit cyclists in Christchurch, New Zealand in separate incidents this week.

Stuff.co.nz reports in an escalation of recent reckless behaviour that has frontline police worried, it has learned the young car thieves are suspected of knocking two people off their bikes by driving by them with open doors.

The first incident happened on Daniels Rd, Redwood, about 12.15pm on Monday, and left a woman with moderate injuries.' Then, about 6.20pm on Tuesday, across town on Centaurus Rd, Hillsborough, another cyclist was knocked off his bike. He suffered serious injuries, the website said.

Police are yet to arrest the drivers involved in either of those incidents.
Photo: Coen Van de broeke /Unsplash