What to do when a loved one is missing
When you believe a person in your life has disappeared, it’s important to act quickly!
Go to your local police station to file a report
- You don’t have to wait a mandatory amount of time to file a missing person report. The sooner you notify the police that your loved one is missing, the faster they can begin searching.
- Keep a record of the report.
- Ensure you obtain a case number for your missing person’s report.
- Write down the name of the person in charge of your case so that you may contact them when you wish to follow up.
- Contact the police as soon as you have reason to worry.
- Stay calm and Investigate
Family meeting
Contact the person’s friends and acquaintances. Call the people in the missing person’s life and ask when they last saw him or her. Determine if they know anything about the person’s whereabouts. Besides friends, family members, neighbours, and classmates, call anyone who had regular contact with the missing person.
Make a profile
- Create a descriptive profile with the latest photo of the missing person, any important details should be added into this description Examples: Colour eyes, hair colour and length, height and weight of person, state of mind, Last seen wearing if they have tattoos or any distinctive birth marks.
- Circulate on your Safe Community app as well as all media platforms.
- Ask people to spread the word. The more people who become aware that you’re looking for a missing person, the better the chances of finding him or her.
- Contact organisations such as Missing children SA and the Pink ladies Organisation to assist with circulating across social media platforms etc.
- Check all local Police Stations and Hospitals.
- Check with all local Police Stations, hospitals, and coroners in the area. If the missing person was in an accident, or in trouble with the law he or she might be in a local hospital or holding cell and unable to communicate for various reasons. Call all the facilities in your area to rule out these possibilities.
