Warkworth Police are appealing to road commuters traveling through the town on SH1 TONIGHT, to stop at their highly visible caravan if they have any information or sighting of the missing 17 year old local teenager Luke MASON.
A police caravan will be parked on SH1, close to where the young man's black shoes were recovered yesterday. The shoes and that of the teenager's bike are the only items discovered so far in an ongoing search by police.
Police will be on site for about four hours from 5.00pm until 9.00pm tonight.
Since disappearing a week ago, there have been three independent sightings of a person fitting the description of Luke MASON. Police say that as a result of these sightings it has now been established that the teenager was last seen at 8.00pm - 8.10pm on Friday night 20 July 2007.
Witnesses say it was about this time that he left a party on his push bike. The bike was found by the Mahurangi River prior to 2.00am Saturday 21 July 2007.
Sergeant Bede HAUGHEY of Warkworth says a small police unit will staff the caravan tonight, and speak to anyone who may have information on the whereabouts of the missing man.
"To assist anyone who comes forward with sightings police will have clothing similar to that worn by the missing teenager displayed on a mannequin."
"On Sunday a 40 x strong Police Search and Rescue team will continue a ground search in the area where the shoes were found south of the river."
"We are making determined efforts to locate this missing teenager. Officers have interviewed an estimated 50 people so far, and this afternoon we have introduced a 0800 number as an additional resource for our enquiries."
"Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Luke MASON can now call the Police enquiry team on 0800 WARKWORTH - [0800 927 596] - as soon as possible," Sergeant HAUGHEY said.
Police describe the missing 17 year old farm employee as:
NAME - MASON/ Luke Stewart
Male - Caucasian
Resident of Warkworth
DOB - 25/1/1990 - Aged 17 years
Occupation - Farm Worker
Height - 175cm - [5'10"]
Hair - Brown
Clothing - when last seen he was casually dressed and wearing black jacket, black trousers/pants, dark shoes. He regularly wears his hair tied at the back.
ENDS:
Kevin [Kev] Loughlin
District Communications Manager / Media Advisor
Waitemata Police District
12-14 Northcroft Street - Takapuna - Auckland
Phone 09 488 9758 - Extn 96308
Mobile 027 281 0271
Email - kevin.loughlin@police.govt.nz