Police investigating the disappearance of Brett Hall in Whanganui are keen to hear from retailers and shop assistants who may have served Mr Hall in the week leading up to his disappearance.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Kirby said: "We have received a small number of calls since we started appealing for information, and three of those calls have been from retailers. The information they are providing is helping us to piece together his movements before he went missing and we are keen to receive more calls of that nature. Our main focus is on the week beginning Monday, 23 May. It is likely he made purchases in Palmerston North on the Tuesday and Whanganui on the Wednesday.
"We are also keen to hear from friends and associates of Mr Hall who have contact with him or have been to his property in recent months, with the reassurance that any information we receive will be treated in the strictest of confidence."
While a team of approximately 30 detectives continue with background enquiries and a canvass of people living in the area searches are also continuing.
Searches have been carried out today along the sides of the Whanganui River Road looking for any property or signs that might indicate Mr Hall's location. Further bush searches have also been carried out this afternoon.
Senior Sergeant Darcy Forrester who is coordinating the search aspect of the operation says they are constantly reviewing their search plans. "In the initial stages of a search you tend to saturate the likely area with large numbers of personnel as it is the optimum time to find someone safe and well. As time goes by it is important to continually regroup, look at what has been covered and then work out the next step. This helps us to stay focused and target the places with the highest probability of a successful outcome. This strategy means that the times we are searching, the numbers of searchers, and the types of resources we are using will be constantly changing."
Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is asked to contact Whanganui Police on 06 349 0600. Alternatively information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.