Police are appealing for any information that will help track down a dangerous offender who's been on the run since last year.

They are warning locals not to approach Peter Francis Atkinson but call 111 immediately as the 70-year-old has an extensive criminal history and is considered highly dangerous.

Police are appealing for any information that will help them track down Peter Francis Atkinson. The 70-year-old has a warrant for arrest after he failed to appear in the Auckland District Court in July of 2014. Photo: Supplied

Atkinson is viewed by police as a 'career criminal” and has links throughout the Thames-Coromandel, Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions.

Yesterday, Armed Offenders Squads from Waikato and Tauranga were involved in an operation executing arrest warrants at one property in Turua and two in Waihi.

Waitemata Tactical Crime Team detective Troy Anderson says the operation failed to locate Atkinson at any of those properties and they were now turning to the public for help.

'A warrant for Atkinson's arrest was issued after he failed to appear at the Auckland District Court in July of 2014,” says Troy. 'He was appearing on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine but failed to show up on the last day of court.

'Since then he's been evading police and that's why he's believed to be down in the Thames-Coromandel region.”

Troy says though Atkinson is 70, he looks much younger and is often mistaken for being in his 50's.

He is described as a European, about 175cm tall and thin build, and has numerous visible tattoos on his arms which includes a distinctive cursive ‘Omerta' on the underside of his right forearm.

Atkinson might also be travelling in the company of a young girl who uses the name ‘Kat' or Katie', and she is described as being in her mid-to-late teens and possibly has red hair.

'The pair may be driving a blue hatchback car or a white van, but we are unable to provide information about the models of those vehicles.

'Atkinson is a career criminal and considered highly dangerous by police, so we warn the public not to approach him due to his history and gang connections but call 111 immediately.”

If you have any information concerning the whereabouts of Peter Francis Atkinson please call 111.

Information can also be supplied anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on: 0800 CRIMESTOPPERS