Slippery fugitive escapes again - with a full tank

A fugitive is believed to have slipped through another police net near Christchurch and is this time understood to have escaped in a high-powered car with a full tank of petrol.

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

Several recent burglaries, including thefts of drug products from South Island pharmacies, have been attributed to Stewart.

His number appeared to be up on Saturday when police and armed offenders squad members swarmed to an area southwest of Christchurch near the Port Hills and cordoned it off.

But police yesterday morning said he had done "a runner" again and the cordon had been abandoned.

Detective Senior Sergeant John Rae said a late model Ford Falcon XR6 coloured purple was stolen yesterday morning from a rural Tai Tapu property.

Keys for the vehicle were taken from inside a house and Mr Rae said he believed Stewart was responsible.

He said roadblocks were in the area at the time, but police believed Stewart had managed to avoid them.

The car had a full tank of petrol and a range of about 600km.

"It could be anywhere in Canterbury by now," Mr Rae said.

If police are correct about Stewart's vehicle thefts while on the run, his tally is three cars, a motorbike and a four-wheel-drive.

On Friday, police, armed offenders squad members and a helicopter unsuccessfully searched bush in Governors Bay after the sighting of a lone motorcyclist, thought to be Stewart, who fled from a police road block..

Stewart is described as a European male, 1.77m tall and of thin build. He had cut his long straggly hair down to a rough No 2 cut.

Mr Rae said Stewart had previously frequented the area between Christchurch and Darfield and back to Temuka and Lake Tekapo.

Police urged the public not to approach him, but to contact them immediately if he is seen.

- NZPA