Search for Canterbury fugitive called off

William Stewart.

Police and locals spent five hours searching for fugitive William Stewart after he was believed to have stolen a vehicle in Canterbury early this morning.

A blue 1992 Mitsubishi Pajero, registration CAD947, was reported stolen from a property at Mt Somers, inland from Ashburton, at 7.15am. The keys were taken from inside the house where the vehicle was parked.

Police believed that Stewart, who has stolen a number of vehicles and broken into properties throughout Canterbury, took the Pajero.

"At the time there were police patrols in the area, but he evaded any of these patrols," said Senior Sergeant Stewart Munro.

Police called off the search, including five owners of private planes who volunteered at no cost to police, this afternoon.

Stewart may have returned to the Selwyn District or the Port Hills, Mr Munro said.

Most people in rural Canterbury supported the police search, although a few people in the Mt Somers area had supported Stewart or not reported his whereabouts.

"Some had apparently known of this for four weeks," he said.

"In that period of time, Stewart has committed many burglaries and offences throughout Canterbury and in their local area."

People were advised to phone 111 immediately if they saw Stewart, and not approach him.

Stewart was a P user, in possession of at least two shotguns and known to be violent.

Police have been chasing the 47-year-old man for 10 weeks throughout rural Canterbury after he allegedly threatened a police officer with an iron bar.

Stewart was a danger to police in particular and was likely to resist arrest if cornered. Meanwhile, his offending would continue, Mr Munro said.

- NZPA