Because of a legal ban on publishing photographs of young offenders police decided to substitute that of actor Robbie Coltrane, 58, best known for his role as Rubeus Hagrid in Harry Potter films. Their leaflets being distributed after a wave of burglaries in Christchurch ask viewers to "image him aged 16 with lank greasy hair and you have the picture," reported The Times of London Saturday.

The pamphlet goes on to say the suspect "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 jewelery."

Coltrane was reportedly not aware that his photograph was being used to fight crime in New Zealand. His agent had no comment for the newspaper, saying that Coltrane was in the United States.