Fugitive wanted over robbery evades police cordon

A fugitive wanted in connection with the robbery of a Christchurch pharmacy on Thursday has again evaded police.

Police have been hunting for William Alexander Stewart, 47, since February 10 when he disappeared near the Rangitata River during a police chase.

Officers, including members of the armed offenders squad (AOS), yesterday cordoned off an area in Taitapu, 16km southwest of Christchurch near the Port Hills, believing Stewart was there.

Police evacuated nearby residents while they searched.

However, he did "a runner" again, and the cordon had been stood down, Sergeant Barry Hansen of Police communications told NZPA this morning.

Police had had a couple of sightings of Stewart and were continuing to search the rural area near where the cordon had been, he said.

Officers, the AOS and a helicopter unsuccessfully searched bush in Governors Bay on Friday following the sighting of a lone motorcyclist thought to be Stewart.

The man had bolted after reaching a police road block on Banks Peninsula, 21km southeast of Christchurch, about 4.30am.

Police attribute a number of recent burglaries to Stewart, with cold tablets and prescriptions taken from a Leeston pharmacy and codeine-based products at Tekapo and Fairlie.

He was thought to be stealing and discarding vehicles as he went, with the tally at two cars, a motorbike and a four-wheel-drive.

Stewart was described as a Caucasian male, 177cm tall, of thin build. He had cut his long straggly hair down to a rough No 2 cut.

- NZPA