Cracker picture used to help catch teenage thief

POLICE in New Zealand are hoping that posters featuring a photo of Robbie Coltrane will help them catch a teenage burglar.

Officers responsible for producing the unusual wanted poster made it clear the British actor is not a suspect in any crimes.

But they said the serial thief is a lookalike of the 58-year-old Cracker and Harry Potter actor — albeit a 16-year-old version.

New Zealand law bans the publication of pictures of juvenile criminals so police in the South Island city of Christchurch came up with the novel solution.

Copies of the poster have been distributed to homes in the area, where police said residents have been targeted by the teenager.

Below the heading “Wanted” is the picture of Coltrane, underneath which are the words “Active burglar in this neighbourhood”.

The text below explains that the photo is of Coltrane and continues: “Robbie Coltrane is not the burglar but imagine him aged 16 with lank greasy hair and you have the picture.

“He is 16-years-old, lives locally, travels by bicycle and burgles houses in your street.

“He will break windows to gain entry and ransack the property targeting electronic items, cash and jewellery.”