Grace Millane: Police reveal some of vanished backpacker’s possessions missing
The 22-year-old was last seen in Auckland nearly a week ago.
Detectives searching for British backpacker Grace Millane in New Zealand say several of her possessions, including her passport, are also missing.
Investigators have said they hold “grave fears” for the safety of the 22-year-old, who was last seen at an Auckland hotel nearly a week ago.
Despite a major police search and public campaign for information, no further sightings of the backpacker have been confirmed.
In a tearful press conference on Friday Ms Millane’s father, who has travelled to Auckland, said the “fun-loving” graduate’s family are “extremely concerned” for her welfare.
Searches have also been carried out at the backpackers’ accommodation where she was staying.
On Saturday police released images of her necklace and watch and urged anyone who recognised the items to come forward.
“Several of her belongings, including her passport, are missing and police believe it is likely that Grace has these items with her.”
Ms Millane, from Essex, graduated from the University of Lincoln in September and had embarked on a year-long worldwide trip.
After visiting Peru she arrived in New Zealand on November 20 and had been “bombarding” her family with photos as she kept in near-daily contact with her parents and brothers via social media.
Her father, David Millane, said they last had contact on the day she vanished.
“As a family we have been extremely concerned for her welfare,” he said.
“Grace is a lovely, outgoing, fun-loving, family-orientated daughter. Grace has never been out of contact for this amount of time.”
Auckland City Police said it received a missing person’s report on Wednesday.
Investigators established the last known sighting of Ms Millane was as she entered the Citylife Hotel in the city centre at 9.41pm on December 1 with a “male companion”.
He said: “At this point our inquiries have not led us to any further confirmed sightings of Grace, and the last known sighting is of her entering the Citylife Hotel.”
Mr Millane said her family are all “extremely upset” and appealed for the public’s help in finding his daughter.
“I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to anybody who has seen, spoken to, come into contact with Grace over the last few days and come forward with any detail, no matter how small,” he said.
Police said they had received dozens of calls to a hotline and more than 25 staff were working on the case, trawling through hours of CCTV footage to trace her movements.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are providing consular support to the family in the UK, and working with the New Zealand Police in relation to reports of a missing British national in New Zealand.”
