The crucial items that could be key to finding missing backpacker
Police have revealed the personal items which could help find a missing backpacker who was last seen a week ago.
Grace Millane – a 22-year-old woman from Essex, UK – arrived in New Zealand on November 20 as part of her holiday.
She had planned to travel for a year and began her journey in Peru, South America before arriving in New Zealand.
New Zealand Police released photographs of a necklace and watch which belong to the young woman on Saturday and urge the public to come forward with information about the items.
Crucial items revealed
Detectives examined Ms Millane’s personal belongings left at her hostel and found several items including her passport, watch and necklace were missing.
“Detectives have assessed Grace’s belongings that were found at the backpackers where she was staying,” Detective Inspector Scott Beard, Auckland City Police said in a statement on Saturday.
“Several of her belongings, including her passport are missing and police believe it is likely that Grace has these items with her.
Her watch is a pale pink Casio Baby-G and her necklace is silver and features a green stone.
Police have asked the public to come forward with information about these items.
New Zealand Police continue to examine hundreds of hours of CCTV footage.
Ms Millane was last seen entering the Citylife Hotel at 9.41pm on December 1 and police are continuing a scene examination of the premises.
Father’s desperate plea
Ms Millane’s father made an emotional plea on Friday to find his daughter after she went missing in New Zealand.
“Grace is on a year-long worldwide overseas experience,” Mr Millane said in a statement issued by New Zealand Police on Friday.
“Grace started this travel journey in Peru in South America and was really looking forward to the second leg in New Zealand.
“We are all extremely upset and it is very difficult at this time to fully describe the range of emotions we are all going through.
“Grace is a lovely, outgoing, fun-loving, family-orientated daughter.
“Grace has never been out of contact for this amount of time and is usually in daily contact with either her mother, myself or her two brothers.
“I would just like to take this opportunity to appeal to anybody who has seen, spoken to, or come into contact with Grace over the last few days to come forward with any detail, no matter how small and contact the investigation team.”
New Zealand Police released a CCTV image of Ms Millane on Thursday.
The image was taken about 7.15pm on Saturday night at Auckland’s Sky City casino complex.
In the image, she is wearing a black dress and white shoes, believed to be Converse sneakers.
Police say they have received dozens of calls from the public offering accommodation and assistance to the Millane family.
