Officers are also investigating whether he was linked to an armed robbery at a McDonalds outlet in Duncraig last night.

An unusually large police presence, including tactical response group officers, attended the hold-up at the Marmion Avenue store about 8pm.

The man was wearing a black balaclava and a blue jacket with a white and red stripe on the arm and was carrying a red bag.

He threatened store staff with a gun before demanding cash.Homicide Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Dean Bailey said police are also investigating whether Newton is linked to several other burglaries in the past week.

“It is common for people who are actively trying to elude police to commit crimes in an effort to support themselves,” he said.

Last Tuesday, police swooped on Karrinyup bushland after unconfirmed sightings of Mr Newton in the area.

He has been warned since July 15 when police had been attending an unrelated traffic crash on the Cedric Street on-ramp on when a vehicle containing a woman’s body pulled up next to them and the male driver told them there was a body in the back.The driver also told police that someone else had injured her.

Ms Gascoigne’s hands and feet were understood to have been bound and her body had been rolled up in a floor mat.Police say both the driver and Ms Gascoigne knew Mr Newton but no further details about her death have been released.

Mr Newton is also wanted by police in relation to an armed robbery at a Craigie pharmacy this month.

Police say Mr Newton is armed and “extremely dangerous” and have urged people not to approach him if they see him.Anyone who sees Mr Newton is asked to call police on 131 444.