Police are investigating possible links between an escaped prisoner and a stolen car found near Dubbo.
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The hunt was continuing for the minimum-security prisoner who escaped from a police transport van at West Wyalong on Thursday.
A spokesperson from Griffith Local Area Command said they didn’t believe the prisoner - John Robert Bamblett - was still in the West Wyalong area.
“We haven’t had any sightings,” the spokesperson said.
Police received a report at 10am on Friday that a 1992 white Toyota Hilux with a white fibre glass canopy had been stolen overnight in West Wyalong. It was later recovered on the same day north of Dubbo.
“Police will be continuing with their inquiries to establish if there is any link between the stolen vehicle and the escapee,” the spokesperson said.
The 35-year-old was last seen running into bushland near the Newell Highway, about six kilometres north of West Wyalong, about 1.10pm on Thursday, November 5.
Bamblett escaped custody while being transported from Ivanhoe Correctional Centre – a minimum security facility – when he managed to free himself from a transport van.
He is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander appearance, around 183cm tall and 75kg in weight. He has tattoos on both arms and was last seen wearing a green prison uniform.
Police are warning the public not to approach Bamblett if they see him, but to instead contact Triple-0 immediately.
