TOP STORY: Burglar's amazing life on the run

Notorious burglar Dean Michael Vincent stole to survive during more than a year on the run - and admits causing the massive search for a mystery yacht thought to have sunk off the Western Bay.
Living rough for 16 months, Vincent broke into baches across the Bay of Plenty, stealing food and clothing before vanishing back into the bush.
The 40-year-old was renowned for cooking himself meals, doing the dishes and then taking a nap in someone else's bed.
Yesterday in Tauranga District Court, Vincent pleaded guilty to 38 charges of breaking into baches and homes from Pukehina Beach across to the Rotorua lakes at Rotoiti, Rotoehu and Rotoma.
As Judge Christopher Harding read out each charge, Vincent stood in the dock and checked them off against his own list, replying: "Guilty your honour".
While on the run Vincent jemmied doors and windows of empty houses and baches stealing food, camping gear, work boots, and fishing gear worth about $10,000.
Vincent became a fugitive in July 2003 when he was paroled with 2 1/2 years left on a six-year sentence.
Vincent bolted from his Huntly address and fled to Taupo, where he camped in a bivouac until moving to a bush hideout at Rotoehu last April.
The following month a major police search and rescue operation was launched after Vincent bungled a plan to head for the Coromandel.
He set out from Matata with stolen camping equipment loaded in a dinghy with an outboard motor. However, waves swamped the small craft, washing ashore clothes and food and sparking the rescue hunt.
The items found on Pukehina by a walker were thought to have been washed off a boat that may have sunk offshore.
Vincent survived and headed inland again. As the number of burglaries mounted, police launched an intensive manhunt and scoured the bush around lakes Rotoiti and Rotoma.
During his last couple of months on the run, Vincent hid in an underground hole while preying on holiday baches at Pukehina. The hole was covered by tarpaulins.
In the end, a careless ride on a stolen motorbike led police to Vincent. On December 21 last year, he cruised down State Highway 2 near Pukehina wearing no helmet.
A passing police patrol noticed the infringement and gave chase.
Vincent rode the bike on to railway tracks. But the bike chain came off, throwing him to the ground.
Police finally had their bach burglar.
Once caught by police, Vincent helped officers and showed them properties he had broken into.
He revealed where he had hidden a new Honda 350 quad bike and trailer in the bush that he had stolen. He also led police to other stolen property.
Vincent claimed he burgled because he needed food, clothing and other items such as batteries and sleeping bags for survival in the bush.
He told police he always ensured baches were empty and said he was careful not to make a mess or damage property unnecessarily.
He said he never wished to cause the houseowners any alarm but went into survival mode while on the run.
It was not the first time Vincent had relied on his bush skills to avoid police.
He escaped from Waikeria Prison in May 2000 and turned to stealing from homes in the Rotorua lakes region.
That time he was on the run for 11 months.
Yesterday, Vincent was remanded in custody until next month for reparation and sentencing reports to be completed.
He has yet to enter pleas to a charge of arson on August 28, two more of burglary, and one each of theft and attempted burglary from 1999.