A prisoner escaped from Alice Springs jail yesterday afternoon. The man remains on the run and NT Police are asking for the public’s help to catch him.

NT Police director of communications Mark WIlton said the 38-year-old prisoner named Robin escaped Alice Springs jail at about 3.21pm on Tuesday.

Police did not say how the man escaped or the nature of his conviction, but said he fled into the Alice Springs CBD.

He is described as being an 180cm tall Aboriginal man of medium build and was last seen wearing a yellow T-shirt and jumper.

Mr Wilton said police are asking for the public’s help to locate him but warned people not to approach despite police believing he is not a threat.

The escape follows two prisoners who broke out of the Darwin city watch house on September 11 and who were caught the same day when they tried to cross a bridge over the Daly River.

Those men broke out of a first floor cell window at the watch house. Photos from the scene indicated that they had removed metal panels from outside the window and used what appeared to be a bed sheet to climb out.

Police are asking anyone who knows Robin’s whereabouts to call them on 131 444 (quote reference number NTP2400095834), or call Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.