Searches fail to find Houdini

Aaron Forden. Photo / supplied

The slippery criminal known as Houdini is still on the run more than a day after breaking out of prison, with searches of several properties failing to uncover his hiding place.

Northland police have joined in the search for escaped prisoner Aaron Forden, having put him in cuffs just four months ago after a lengthy manhunt.

Forden, 30, has contacts in Northland and was arrested in June after getting into a fight in a Kaitaia bar. At the time he was wanted for allegedly ramming police patrol vehicles, burgling homes and stealing cars.

He then escaped from Whangarei District Court just days later and was on the run until police caught him in Auckland on Rugby World Cup opening night, allegedly while he was breaking into cars.

Forden - known as Houdini for his numerous disappearing acts, including a 2008 escape from the old Mt Eden Prison - became the first person to break out of the new Mt Eden Corrections Facility yesterday.

Detective Sergeant Iain Chapman of Auckland police said police had checked out several addresses so far without success.

"We've had no firm sightings of him and from past experience he's very adept at changing his appearance in a bid to evade capture," he said.

Northland police spokeswoman Sarah Kennett said a team of Whangarei police officers had been assigned to look for Forden, and all staff had been told to be on the lookout for the slippery criminal.

"There are inquiries up here because he has contacts across the region. The last time he was found he was in Kaitaia before he escaped from the court so that's why we are looking here as well as in Auckland."

Ms Kennett did not wish to comment when asked whether it was frustrating for police to have to keep chasing the same man after locking him up twice already.

"We just do our job in searching for him."

Forden grew up in Whangarei and knows Northland well, and has family in the area, police said.

He is European of medium build, with short reddish hair. He was last seen wearing prison issue grey sweatshirt and pants.

He has a history of disguising his look, including shaving his head and dyeing his hair.