Fugitive sees self in News, decides his run is over

A pair of longtime fugitives ended up behind bars this week, although one took something of an unusual path: He surrendered because of the

Daily News

, authorities said.

Vorn Nov, 27, decided to end his life on the lam on Monday, after he saw his photo in a "Most Wanted" column in that day's Daily News, said Special Agent J.J. Klaver, an FBI spokesman.

Nov had been wanted by the FBI's Fugitive Task Force since Sept. 28, 2008, when he was indicted on charges of making bomb threats against City Hall, an immigration building in Center City and the White House, Klaver said.

The second fugitive, Allan Thomas, was nabbed early yesterday by U.S. marshals in North Carolina, said Jim Burke, supervisor of the Marshals' Fugitive Task Force.

Thomas, 26, is accused of kicking and punching two cops during a traffic stop in West Philadelphia on Feb. 14, and then dragging the officers 15 feet with his car as he drove away, authorities said.

Before the car stop turned violent, the officers had determined that Thomas was wanted on a warrant for fleeing a halfway house, Burke said.

During the ensuing hunt for Thomas, investigators searched his house, where they found a gun and narcotics, he said.

A tip finally led investigators to North Carolina, where Thomas was staying at a friend's house.

"He was found hiding in there," Burke said, "but there was no physical resistance when [the marshals] arrested him."

Thomas, whose record includes 17 arrests for offenses that include robbery and aggravated assault, will soon be extradited back to Philadelphia.

"We're very happy to have a guy with his history off the streets," Burke added.