Police say they believe missing Marokopa man Tom Phillips is armed and a risk to the community.
This morning they offered a $80,000 reward for information on Phillips’ and his three missing children.
Phillips, whose last reported sighting was in August, is believed to be aided by associates in evading capture.
Police say they believe missing Marokopa man Tom Phillips is still armed and a risk to the community and have warned locals off approaching him.
In an update to media at the Hamilton police station this afternoon, Acting Detective Inspector Andy Saunders said they still believe Phillips is somewhere in Marokopa or the surrounding area.
He reiterated that Phillips did not have custody of his children Jayda, Maverick and Ember.
Waikato police this morning announced an $80,000 reward for useful information that would lead to the return of the children. They had also deployed a team to Marokopa as the hunt for the family entered a new phase.
Missing Marokopa man Tom Phillips and his children Jayda, Maverick and Ember. Photos / NZ Police
Saunders said police had issued several appeals to the community since the quartet disappeared, but these hadn’t achieved the desired results so now was the time to issue the reward.
“We haven’t seen them for the last two-and-a-half years. They haven’t interacted with anyone. We’ve got concerns about their health and general welfare,” he said, of the children.
Saunders said immunity would also be considered for anyone who had been helping Phillips.
“We don’t want them waiting months and months to decide. We are giving them a two-week opportunity to come forward.”
Acting Detective Inspector Andy Saunders provides an update on the missing Marokopa family this afternoon. Photo / Mike Scott
The reward was focused on the safe return of the children, not on the arrest of Phillips, he said.
“If Phillips came forward, he would not be a recipient of the money.”
Saunders said he couldn’t speculate whether the people they have already spoken to assisted Phillips. They were targeting people who had direct knowledge of Phillips’ whereabouts.
“If people have been aiding Tom Phillps to evade capture, they may have committed an offence in doing so.”
The wider Phillips family was aware of the operation and was happy to hear a reward had been issued.
‘Committed to finding these children’
In a statement released this morning, Saunders said police believe other people are assisting Phillips and they’re urging those people to come forward.
“We are committed to finding these children and we’re willing to take the step of offering a reward if it will prove the tipping point to help people put the children’s welfare first,” Saunders said.
Information can be provided to the investigation team by contacting the 105 reporting line, quoting the file number 211218/5611, or by emailing the dedicated email address op.curly@police.govt.nz.
“We wish to reiterate that Tom Phillips faces charges in relation to aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding and unlawful possession of a firearm as a result of a criminal investigation separate to the missing persons investigation,” Saunders said.
