Police believe Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips has allegedly stolen a quad bike from a rural Waikato property and broken into a shop with one of his children.
Phillips has been on the run with his three young children Jayda, 10, Maverick, eight, and Ember, seven, for about 22 months.
Acting Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders provided an update on Tuesday afternoon saying police are still working to locate Phillips and his children.
Police are now looking for possible sightings of a stolen red farm-style quad bike, with no registration. The bike was reported stolen from a Marokopa Road property in Te Anga on Thursday, November 2.
Police have also released a photo of two people, believed to be Phillips and one of his children, disguised.
Det Insp Saunders said it's thought the pair drove the quad bike south from the property.
"CCTV shows the pair broke the front glass of a store in Piopio but fled north after the alarm was activated, around 2:10am," Det Insp Saunders said.
"Police continue to conduct enquiries in the search for Tom Phillips and his family, and we cannot stress enough how important the community is to locating them."
Police urge the public to report any sightings of the quad bike as it's the "best chance we have to locate Tom and his three children and ensure their welfare".
"We are urging anyone who may have any information, no matter how small, to please come forward to Police," Det Insp Saunders said.
"If you have seen the quad bike between early morning on Thursday 2 November and now, or believe you have sighted Tom Phillips, please contact Police."
Police have set up a dedicated email address for members of the public to report any information they may have - op.curly@police.govt.nz
"Please also report any urgent sightings via 111 and quote file number 211218/5611," Det Insp Saunders said.
"Police would like to thank the public for the information received so far which has been invaluable for our ongoing enquiries."
This latest update comes two months after police issued a warrant for the arrest of Phillips following the robbery in Te Kuiti in May.
Police appealed for information in May after two people entered a bank on Rora Street and allegedly demanded cash. Both were allegedly armed and fled the scene on a black, farm-style motorbike, Acting Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders said.
In August, police released new details on recent sightings of Phillips. He had been seen at two Bunnings stores in Waikato.
Police said he used a large amount of cash and the items bought suggest he may have set up a campsite. These items include headlamps, batteries, seedlings, buckets, and gumboots.
