Fugitive link to locksmith raid?

By KELLY BLANCHARD in Rotorua
Police have upped the ante in the hunt for Rotorua burglar Zeb McCallion after his suspected involvement in a raid on a Mt Maunganui locksmith.

Police have put a price on McCallion's head because they are desperate to stop his alleged crimewave.

McCallion escaped from the Rotorua police station with Dean Whakatu on October 4, by forcing his way through ceiling planks, wire netting and corrugated iron.

Whakatu was recaptured two weeks later, but McCallion is still on the run. He was facing several burglary and car-theft charges.

Acting Senior Sergeant Darryl Brazier of the Mt Maunganui police said police had put up a reward for McCallion's capture.

Mr Brazier would not reveal how much would be paid because it depended on the quality of the information.

"There is a price on his head. Someone will get the money - it's just a matter of how much."

Although police had no direct evidence connecting McCallion with the locksmith robbery, they are not ruling out a connection.

"We could be drawing a long bow to put him down to that burglary, but he is certainly a suspect. We know he is in the area and he needs to commit crime to survive and to pay for his methamphetamine habit."

Police believed McCallion was responsible for a series of commercial property burglaries in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui during the last month.

Mr Brazier said although McCallion was transient, he had a number of close associates in the Tauranga area, including Filthy Few gang members.

He said McCallion was a heavy methamphetamine user - adding another dangerous element to the mix.

"That's why anyone who comes into contact with him needs to treat him with considerable caution."

The locksmith's was robbed at the weekend.

The offenders disconnected the alarm and forced their way into the building through a side door, removing a steel bar allowing entry into the workshop area. Police feared the locksmith robbers planned to use the key-cutting equipment and documents relating to dozens of local businesses to carry out further burglaries.

"This has been a carefully planned and executed burglary," Mr Brazier said.

The documents included key codes for individual business premises and about $10,000-worth of key-cutting equipment.

The locksmith business was trying to contact all its clients that could be affected.

"It's a significant financial blow to them as well, this equipment is hard to replace."

The burglary was at an industrial area, so it was not surprising that no witnesses had come forward yet. additional reporting NZPA