Alleged paraglide thief in court

A woman who allegedly eluded police by flying over their heads after stealing a $250 watch is due to appear in court facing multiple charges.

The 33-year Invercargill woman, said by police to be a prostitute, faces 20 charges including burglary, shoplifting, and theft from cars.

Queenstown police believe the woman was the same person who last month took a watch from a local shop, and later sailed over waiting police on a tandem paraglide from the top of Queenstown's Skyline Gondola.

Police had been waiting down the hill in the belief she was going to do a bungy jump.