KEY POINTS:
The hunt for a man who escaped Mt Eden Prison by climbing down a rope made from sheets ended in a dramatic high-speed car chase yesterday.
Police praised eagle-eyed members of the public who recognised Aaron Stephen Forden - who looked considerably different from his released mugshot -
in Manukau.
Rebel Sport Botany Downs department manager Greg French said two staff members recognised the fugitive as he wandered around the store yesterday afternoon.
"He was looking suspicious - just because of his sheer look and demeanour - but they [the staff members] had both been watching the news and thought he looked like the guy on TV, even though he had changed his appearance.
"From there they alerted one of our senior staff members who went and rang the police," said Mr French.
Forden bought a pair of trackpants before going to his car, getting changed and returning to the store again.
"The lady in the store was on the phone to the police when he came in the second time.
"They were asking her, 'Can you tell me what he looks like? Is he still there?' but she couldn't say anything because he was right there."
Forden bought a T-shirt, then left the store, unaware that mall security staff had arrived and that the police were rushing to Botany Downs, armed with his car registration details thanks to the observant but "rather nervous" Rebel Sport staff.
Senior Sergeant John Yearbury said a man walking along Redoubt Rd then saw 26-year-old Forden driving a 1996 Nissan Silvia sports car about 2.15pm.
Police found him two minutes later on Great South Rd and chased the car for 5km through to Hunters Corner in Papatoetoe.
The chase reached up to 130km/h in the 50km/h zone and Forden ran several red lights before clipping a sedan and smashing into two other stationary vehicles he tried to squeeze between at traffic lights.
He ran off, but police caught him five minutes later behind a house.
The first mugshot issued of Forden after Monday's escape showed him with longish strawberry-blond hair and facial hair.
The next shot showed him with a close-cropped cut and strawberry-blond facial hair.
Mr Yearbury said the prisoner now had closely shaved hair dyed blond and blond facial hair.
"It was good spotting ... because he's changed his appearance somewhat."
Police were talking to Forden about his whereabouts for the previous three days and whose car he was driving.
Forden was to remain at Manukau police station overnight and will appear in the Manukau District Court today on charges of escaping custody and dangerous driving.
He had been behind bars since January facing charges of burglary and aggravated wounding relating to an incident in Blockhouse Bay.
Forden also had a 2003 conviction for unlawful possession of a firearm and police had warned the public not to approach him.
Mt Eden Prison's failure to replace absent staff because of cost-cutting measures may have made it easier for him to break out.
On the morning of the escape there were only three wardens at work in Forden's wing instead of the usual four.
