Three men have been arrested in after a series of raids on pharmacies in Limerick and Tipperary.
The men were held after a high-speed chase with gardaí in the Drombanna area of Co Limerick at around 1.20am.
The patrol car was rammed during the incident but the officers were not injured.
Gardaí said four premises were targeted — two in the village of Hospital, Co Limerick, a third in Castleconnell, and a fourth in Emly, Co Tipperary.
It is not yet known if anything was taken.
Gardaí are understood to be seeking a fourth man who they believe may have taken part in the raids. The men are being held at garda stations in Limerick City on suspicion of burglary.
One of the men is being questioned in Roxboro Road garda station and the other two at Henry Street.