A couple accused of stealing the wallet of a man dying on the street are on the run from police.

The pair, understood to be a 23-year-old woman and 25-year-old man from Napier, allegedly swiped Henry Pere's wallet as bystanders rushed to his aid in Waihi last Wednesday and gave him CPR.

According to the dead man's sister-in-law the wanted man even ran to retrieve a life-saving defibrillator from a nearby community help desk which was used to temporarily revive Pere, 60, a Waihi local.

Narissa Pere told the Waihi Leader as people focused on saving the life of her brother-in-law and administer CPR the opportunist thief took advantage of the emergency situation.

By the time emergency services arrived the man and woman disappeared along with a wallet belonging to Pere.

"The guy said he was helping and that was why he went to the info centre. But he went back there the next day to get a bus ticket to Napier and the lady at the i-SITE wrote down his name and that is how police managed to track him down with his partner."

Narissa Pere said her late brother-in-law had withdrawn money from the bank before he suffered his fatal heart attack in Waihi's main street.

She said since word spread of the theft she had been blown away by the community support.

"The neighbours have been very supporting, so it is not all bad. There are some lovely people out there like the people who came and helped Henry.

"So many neighbours came around to share Henry's stories after they got the news of his medical emergency last Wednesday."

She said Pere was a good guy, who loved his motorbike and cat which was like a child to him.

However, another woman who joined those helping save the life of Pere said the wanted couple were extremely helpful, not hesitating to retrieve a defibrillator and making the suffering local as comfortable as possible. The woman even put her jacket under Pere's head to cushion it as others tried to revive him.

She said as police arrived the couple left apologising for the quick departure.

The man said he had a warrant out for his arrest.

The woman described them as doing much good before making a momentary bad decision.

She said Pere's wallet and phone was passed around to up to five different people as everyone focused on saving a life - including the couple now accused of theft.

Shaken by the ordeal she urged people to download CPR and defibrillator apps on their cell phones in order to help people who found themselves in emergency situations.

Police today confirmed warrants had been issued for the arrest of a man and woman after they failed to appear in the Napier District Court.

Senior Constable Scott Tyrrell today had scathing words for the couple who took advantage of a terrible situation, branding it "appalling".

"If they had any sense they would hand themselves in before we catch up with them," said Tyrrell.

He praised those good Samaritans who intervened and tried to help the dying man.

**Can you help? Contact police on CrimeStoppers anonymous: 0800 555 111