4.0 Searching on your Own: Practical ideas to get you started
After telling Police about missing person you may want to start your own search.
Why?
Because you want to help Police and you want to keep busy.
4.1 Where to start: Missing person's home to check for clues
Go to missing person home and bedroom to look for:
. wallet
. mobile phone
. handbag
. passport
Notice anything missing:
. clothing
. jewelry
. food
. make up
. camping equipment
. suitcase
. backpack
Search through personal belongings.
Check highlighted or recently added information.
You are looking for messages or clues about planning to leave.
. address book
. briefcase
. diary
. favorite book
. laptop
. magazines
. school bag
4.2 Go to places missing person likes to visit: Ask around
. park
. shopping centre
. food outlet
. bus stop
. train station
. pub
. amusement arcade
. gym
. movie theatre
. sports club
. playground
. library
. somewhere missing person likes to go to be alone
4.3 Tell Police what you find out: Keep accurate notes
. Everything you find out is important to missing person search
. Even small details can make a difference
. Keep accurate notes
Tell Police if missing person returns or makes contact.
4.4 Searching on your own: Practical ideas for going deeper
Tell Police before starting your own deeper search.
Why?
Even small details can make a difference to Police activities.
4.5 Where to start: Talk to people and keep in regular contact
. People who know missing person can turn up new information
. Ask people to contact you if they hear anything at all.
Contact:
. Relatives close and distant
. Whanau
. Old friends
. New friends
. Workmates
. Neighbours
. School teachers
. Church members
4.6 Talk to local services: Show recent photo of missing person to...
. Taxi drivers
. Bus drivers
. Train and ferry service operators
. School bus drivers
. Postman/Postwoman
. Garbage collectors
.Supermarkets and shop assistants
. Sports clubs
. Hospital emergency departments and hospital admissions
. Airport customs and airlines
Also:
. Salvation Army
. Soup kitchens
. Homeless shelters
Keep Police informed of all new information.
