As searchers complete the latest phases of the continuing search for a man missing in Hamilton since Sunday, the officer leading the enquiry say Police are relying on the public reporting sightings of him.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ross Patterson of the Hamilton CIB said the last confirmed sighting of 70-year-old Kawhia man, Trevor SMITH, was along a busy Hamilton road about 5.30pm on Sunday.
"A member of the public sighted Mr SMITH walking beside the median strip on the wrong side of the road on Cobham Dr, heading towards Normandy Ave.
"We don't know if anyone stopped to talk to him or picked him up but if you did, Police would very much like to speak to you."
Mr Patterson said over the past few days the search for Mr SMITH had involved about 40 Police and Land Search and Rescue volunteers physically searching the Waikato Hospital campus, areas of bush and properties around that and properties and the area around Hamilton's Lake Rotoroa.
"The search has progressed through to the Waikato River and has included searchers on the land and in a boat searching the river banks while a helicopter has been used to search the lake and areas inaccessible to the land based searchers.
"In addition to that we have been using a team of 15 detectives following up on possible sightings and reviewing security camera footage. Right now our request is for people who may have seen someone matching Mr SMITH'S description to contact us by ringing 111."
Mr SMITH is described as being clean shaven with a number one haircut and of average to solid build. When last seen he was wearing a distinctive lime green Vodafone Warriors rugby league jersey, dark blue track-pants, plain white sandshoes and a grey cap.
End