New Zealand Police Alert 3:00pm 23 Apr 2009 Canterbury

Location of incident: MT SOMERS

Incident type: STOLEN VEHICLE

At about 0715 this morning a Mitsubishi Pajero 4WD Station Wagon, registered number CAD947, was stolen from a farm property in Mt Somers. The vehicle is blue in colour and a 1992 model. It has yellow fog lights on the front. It has some rust on the panels and blows smoke from the exhaust on acceleration.

The vehicle was in a property in Hood Road, Mt Somers and was last seen travelling east towards SHW 72 in Mts Somers. The keys were taken from inside the house where the vehicle was parked.

Police believe that William Stewart is the offender for the taking of this vehicle.

At the time there were Police Patrols in the area but he evaded any of these Patrols. This is not surprisning given the vast number of roads leaving the area. Due to this it was impossible to put road blocks at all intersections and Stewart had numerous avenues of escape.

The incident was broadcast on radio Stations but no member of the public reported seeing this vehicle after it was stolen.

Police had a large number of patrols patrol the area but the vehicle or Stewart was not located.

After five hours the search was called off. The support of the community for Police during the Operation today was appreciated in particular five owners of private planes volunteering to fly the vast area to assist Police at no cost.

Although there have been a few people in the Mt Somers area who have either supported or not reported Stewarts whereabouts when they have known the Police appreciate that the vast majority of the various rural communities in the Canterbury region where Stewart has committed a large number of crimes are supportive of Police.

The message to report suspicious activity and/or sightings of vehicles used by him immediately on 111 is getting through with some valuable information is being brought to Police attention.

I am sure that the criminal element in Canterbury are also tiring of Stewarts antics as more and more information is coming to Police about criminal activity and criminals as the public awareness of crime is heightened by Stewarts continual criminal activities.

Although Stewarts actual whereabouts is unknown it is quite possible that he is still in the Mt Somers/Staverley area, however it is not inconceivable he has moved from there back to the Selwyn District or the Port Hills.

Stewart MUNRO
Senior Sergeant
Sub Area Commander
Selwyn Police District
CANTERBURY
Issued By: Senior Sergeant Tony Ellis

ENDS

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