Police have a balance to manage as they continue the hunt for Marokopa fugitive father Tom Phillips and his three children.

Police have released CCTV footage of a retail burglary in the King Country town of Piopio on Wednesday involving two people they believe to be the Marokopa father and one of his children.

Lawyer Matthew Hague, who has served in the Police and Defence Force, says Police need to balance bringing this to a conclusion - with the risk of Phillips having weapons.

But he told Heather du Plessis-Allan that this doesn't mean Police will be passive.

Hague says they'll be working with the community, and using a variety of resources - but they'll be trying to avoid a direction confrontation.

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