The car, which is used to escort wide loads, had been parked behind Deeragun Police Station, on the northern outskirts of Townsville, on Monday night.

Acting Superintendent Chris Lawson says the police station was entered into and keys to the vehicle stolen before officers then received reports that a man had driven off in the car about 2.30am.

"The security of the police station is one of the key areas of our investigation and to establish exactly how the entry occurred is ongoing," he said on Tuesday.

"Knowing one of our police vehicles has been stolen is a big concern for us and a severe security concern."

The car was driven at least 50km southeast of Townsville with police deploying road spikes to try to stop it at Alligator Creek.

Two left hand tyres were blown but the car travelled back to the city where it drove into the army's Lavarack Barracks and crashed into another police car.

A 24-year-old Mount Low man has been arrested and is being questioned by police.

Australian Associated Press