Wanted man fine: anonymous letter

Palmerston North police are still hunting a man who fled bleeding from a bungled burglary at a bar in the city last month.

But they have received word, through an anonymous letter to the local newspaper, that the man they want, 19-year-old Justin O'Rourke, is "fine" and still avoiding them for the time being.

The burglary happened at the Albert Sports Bar and Casino in Albert St about 3.30pm on August 22, when a man was seen fleeing with cash from the bar.

The shirtless, barefooted man escaped empty handed, but blood-covered, after a bystander intercepted him and grabbed his loot.

The man managed to get away from the scene, but appeared to have suffered significant cuts from the broken glass.

A large amount of blood left at the scene prompted police to have concerns for his safety.

A couple of days later Detective Sergeant Ash Gurney named O'Rourke as a suspect and called for him to contact police.

"All the evidence suggests he will have some reasonable facial injuries which also causes us some concern about his welfare," Mr Gurney said.

O'Rourke was from Palmerston North but was transient, Mr Gurney said.

A warrant for his arrest was issued on June 26 after he breached community release conditions following a prison term for burglary.

Today the Manawatu Standard reported it had received a letter from a person claiming to be a friend of the wanted man.

The letter wanted to tell "those of you interested" that he was fine after his recent injuries.

The writer claimed that "Justin has been with me on-and-off since being on the run".

It said his family and friends wanted him to hand himself in, but that it was a choice only he could make.

"When Justin is ready he will hand himself in but until then he will be a fugitive who is not dangerous or out to hurt anyone," the letter said.

Mr Gurney said the warrant for O'Rourke's arrest continued, but police hoped he would hand himself in.

"He is aware that he is wanted," Mr Gurney said.

- NZPA