A woman has been arrested after allegedly taking a stolen BMW on a joyride before she was tracked down by a police helicopter.

The saga unfolded when police received a call just after 8pm on Friday that a blue BMW had allegedly driven off from a Croydon Park service station, in Adelaide’s inner north west, without paying for petrol.

The car allegedly returned to the service station, resulting in the attendant refusing to turn on the pumps, and alerting police.

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today

Police contacted the registered owner of the car, who was unaware that her vehicle had allegedly been stolen.

She managed to track the BMW and update police on its location.

A police helicopter spotted the allegedly stolen car about 9.15pm at Enfield and tracked it into the city, before it came to a stop at Vinrace Street.

Officers swooped on the vehicle and arrested the driver, a 36-year-old Henley Beach South woman.

She has been charged with illegal use and driving unlicensed.

She was bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on 17 September.

The car was towed from the scene for forensic examination.