Senior Sergeant Brian Benn said a silver 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante saloon - registration number AYQ631 - was stolen from a rental car company in Wanaka on April 25.
The stolen car was involved in a petrol drive-off.
The car was seen in central Dunedin with different plates - FMT587 (front plate) and CBY147 (back plate) - on Wednesday.
It was seen in Arrowtown on Saturday morning and police signalled the driver to stop.
The driver fled and a pursuit began but police ''pulled back'' due to the unnecessary risk the driving posed to the public.
The car was found abandoned on Advance Tce in Arrowtown.
Police believe Tony Ashley Gorrie was driving the vehicle.
The 47-year-old has a warrant to arrest and police are seeking sightings of him.
He is described as 175cm tall and of medium build.
Gorrie might be in the area or may have hitched a ride to somewhere else in Central Otago.
Any sightings of the man should be reported to the nearest police station.
-Crimestoppers 0800 555-111.
