Police search for missing Dunedin man

File photo / NZ Herald

Police continue the search for missing Dunedin man Brad Anderson, checking remote locations around the city for clues overnight.

Senior Sergeant Brian Benn said he had a patrol covering 200km overnight, looking for Mr Anderson or any sign of his vehicle.

Mr Anderson, 25, was last seen getting petrol at the BP service station on George Street at 11.30am on Thursday.

The alarm was raised after he failed to answer calls and texts to his mobile, which friend and family spokesman Paul O'Sullivan said was "extremely unusual for a guy who is on his phone 24/7".

Police are hoping to pinpoint a signal still transmitting from the cellphone, which could be anywhere within a 30km radius of Dunedin's Mt Cargill, and are working on narrowing the search area.

Mr Anderson has not touched his bank account since buying petrol on Thursday and the last image of him is from the station's security camera.

Mr Anderson's mother has travelled from Oamaru and extended family have arrived in Dunedin to help with the search.

"Brad's mother, family and friend's are all devastated by his disappearance and we need to find him and bring him home," Mr O'Sullivan said.

Mr O'Sullivan said Mr Anderson, an IT consultant at Otago University, was not the type of person to go away without notice.

"It's very out of character to head off and not contact anybody. He is always in contact with people. There is always texting happening and he hasn't made any kind of contact like that at all."

Police believe Mr Anderson is in the greater Dunedin area, travelling in a silver 2000 Nissan Wingroad stationwagon, registered number EJK998, with "IT Otago" signs on its sides.

Mr Anderson is described as 186cm tall, of thin build with blue eyes and short black spiky hair.

He was last seen wearing blue/grey coloured jeans, a light blue "V" neck t-shirt, and a navy-blue coloured hooded sweatshirt with a red print.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police.

- NZPA