Video seems to point out New Zealand fugitive who fled into wilderness with kids 4 years in the past

[ad_1] A New Zealand father who vanished into the wilderness along with his three kids almost 4 years in the past was probably noticed on a CCTV digital camera throughout a break-in at an area retailer, police mentioned.

New Zealand police on Friday launched nighttime footage that they consider exhibits Tom Phillips and one in every of his kids apparently breaking right into a retailer earlier than driving away on a quad bike.

Det. Senior Sgt. Andy Saunders instructed reporters on Friday that the pair made off with some "grocery gadgets," in line with a report by CBS Information companion BBC .

CCTV footage launched by New Zealand police seems to point out Tom Phillips and one in every of his kids breaking right into a retailer. New Zealand Police

Phillips took his three kids – Ember, 9, Maverick, 10, and Jayda, 12 – from their household dwelling in December 2021 over what police mentioned was a custody battle. They're believed to be hiding and tenting within the North Island's western Waikato area.

A nationwide seek for the kids was launched after their disappearance, and a $47,000 reward was posted for data on their whereabouts final yr. The provide expired earlier than it was claimed, the BBC reported.

Phillips and his kids have been final noticed in October 2024 when a bunch of teenage pig hunters noticed them trekking by way of the bush and filmed the encounter on their telephones.

Since then, his household has appealed to Phillips to show himself in and return the kids.

"There's loads of love and there is loads of help, and we're prepared that can assist you stroll by way of what you might want to stroll by way of," his sister, Rozzi Phillips, told New Zealand news site Stuff in an unique interview earlier this month.

In line with police, the newest CCTV footage was launched in hopes that the group would report extra sightings of Phillips and his chidren. The obvious break-in occurred round 2 a.m. native time on Wednesday in Piopio, a small city in northern New Zealand.

Police mentioned the pair appeared to make use of an influence instrument to interrupt right into a refrigerated container earlier than making off with groceries on the quad bike.

Police mentioned Phillips is believed to have unsuccessfully focused the identical retailer in November 2023.

Phillips faces a spread of expenses, together with aggravated theft, aggravated wounding and illegal possession of a firearm.

"On the coronary heart of this are three kids who've been away from their dwelling for 4 years," Saunders mentioned in a police assertion. "Their well-being is our principal focus."

Agence France-Presse contributed to this report.

Extra from CBS Information

Lucia I Suarez Sang

Lucia Suarez Sang is an affiliate managing editor at CBSNews.com. Beforehand, Lucia was the director of digital content material at FOX61 Information in Connecticut and has beforehand written for shops together with FoxNews.com, Fox Information Latino and the Rutland Herald.