Police finally capture 'Barefoot Bandit'

A teenager who allegedly stole cars, boats and planes to dodge US law enforcement for two years has finally been captured in the Bahamas, bringing an end to exploits that made the "Barefoot Bandit" a folk hero.

Colton Harris-Moore, from Washington state, was arrested yesterday in northern Eleuthera. High-ranking officers travelled to the island to take the suspect to the country's capital, Nassau, where he faces extradition to the US.

Island police had been searching for the 19-year-old since he allegedly crash-landed a stolen plane a week ago on nearby Great Abaco Island, where he was blamed for several break-ins. Authorities caught Harris-Moore as he attempted to dock a boat at Harbour Island, just off mainland Eleuthera, a police official said.

Harris-Moore, who has been running from US law enforcement since escaping from a halfway house in Washington state in 2008, gained thousands of fans who admired his ability to evade arrest. He is suspected of stealing cars, boats and at least five planes – including the aircraft he allegedly stole in Indiana and used to fly more than 1,000 miles to the islands off Florida's coast, despite a lack of formal flight training.