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Fears are growing "by the hour" for the safety of deaf Christchurch woman Emma Agnew, who disappeared on Thursday.
The burnt-out remains of her red Mazda Familia car were found in Bromley Park that night.
The last time 20-year-old Ms Agnew's family heard from her, at 10.30am on Thursday, she said was planning to meet a man interested in buying her car.
She had advertised it for sale with her phone number posted on the windows of the car.
"Someone visited her and something has happened," her brother Toby said.
Police have not yet confirmed that she actually met a potential purchaser but are investigating the possibility.
"She had signs on the side of her car with her phone number on it so any one of a number of people could have contacted her in respect of that," Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Long told NZPA.
He said police had "simply no idea" where Ms Agnew was, and their fears were growing as time went on.
"We are clearly concerned about the circumstances of her going missing - it is completely out of character for her, the lack of contact with either of her cellphones, and the fact that her car was found burnt out.
"We hope she is safe and well somewhere, but our fears certainly are growing by the hour."
Family members described Ms Agnew as a friendly and outgoing young woman who was always in touch.
Her aunt, Evelyn Pateman, said Ms Agnew's mother and father and three brothers, who are all deaf, were finding the situation difficult.
Detectives will spend today continuing their canvass of the Gloucester Street area, near where Ms Agnew lived, speaking to residents.
Background inquiries will also be made into her last known movements on Thursday.
Police have a sighting of her in her car in the city centre at 10am that day.
They are also interested in possible sightings of the vehicle heading towards the Belfast area.
Mr Long said he did not know how long it would take to get the results of the forensic examination of Ms Agnew's car and flat.
Detective Inspector Tom Fitzgerald said police were very interested to identify a silver Japanese car seen in and around the area of Bromley Park on Thursday evening between 9 and 10pm.
"It was parked very close and travelling around the Bromley Park area," Mr Fitzgerald said.
- NZPA
- NZPA
