Police investigate 200 possible sightings of Cleo Smith

The officer in charge of the taskforce set up to find missing four-year-old Cleo Smith has revealed there have been over 200 possible sightings of the four-year-old from the public.

Speaking to the media on Thursday afternoon in Carnarvon, Western Australia, Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde thanked the community for reporting any possible sightings, however none of the tips have led police to Cleo.

"I can say that we've had over 200 reported possible sightings of Cleo, now, unfortunately, all of those obviously have proved unfruitful ... it wasn't Cleo," he told reporters on Thursday afternoon.

"I want to thank the public recalling that information. And that's been national as well, so there's been some of those in other states."

Cleo and her sleeping bag vanished from the family's tent at the Blowholes campsite when her mother woke up early on the morning of October 16.

Det Supt Wilde remains optimistic investigators will find out what happened to Cleo.

"We're very hopeful and confident that we'll resolve this and find out what happened to Cleo," he said.

The WA government has issued a $1 million reward for information leading to Cleo's location.

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Criminologist reveals why cops searched Cleo's home

Associate Professor Xanthe Mallett, from Newcastle University, told Sunrise on Thursday police were likely looking for “signs of injuries or struggles” at the missing four-year-old’s home.

Police have been seen regularly returning to the home at Carnarvon, dusting fences and looking at windows since Cleo disappeared from the Blowholes campsite in Western Australia on October 16.

Dr Mallett said Cleo's family have been ruled out as suspects.

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Dr Mallett said "the family will always be looked at" or whomever was the last person to see the missing person or persons in question.

"The police will look at extended family/friends, potentially anyone who may have had an interest in Cleo," she said.

"This is totally normal, and only one of multiple lines of inquiry that will be running simultaneously."

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