WAGGA’s most wanted man, who escaped officers while hand-cuffed, has been recaptured and arrested by police on Thursday night.
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The escapee was seen by plain clothes police who were undertaking a shoplifting operation at South City shopping centre.
Officers were then able to apprehend the suspect in a peaceful arrest.
It comes after friends and family of the run-away man took to social media to stir-up a desperately searching police force.
The unusual flow of support for the runaway alleged criminal led police to believe his family and friends may have helped him remain hidden from officers.
The man, who listed his occupation as “being a full time criminal” on social media, was the target of an appeal for information by police which was hijacked by his associates.
“You've made the news, love the pic,” a comment from a woman who shares an eerily similar surname to the offender said.
Another person to comment on the call-out simply said: “smile next time, boy”.
Police earlier this week speculated the man may have used heavy machinery or power tools to remove the hand-cuffs from his wrists.
Another person claimed the man had already managed to remove his hand-cuffs, in a post to Wagga police’s Facebook page.
An official statement from the Wagga LAC said: “To remove handcuffs without the key is risky and could result in a serious (life changing) injury being sustained, something that can be easily avoided.”
Police expressed their unease that individuals, who openly spoke of knowing him, had not come forward.
“It’’s concerning to us that people are aware of the suspect’s location but are withholding the information from police,” Inspector Roy Elmes told The Daily Advertiser.
Officers on Saturday morning arrested the 19-year-old man at Bruce Street, Tolland in relation to an alleged property offence.
While at the location, the man ran from police along Bruce Street while bound by handcuffs.
He will face court Friday.