A massive operation is underway to find a young girl, Sharon, missing from a town camp on the edge of Alice Springs.
The desperate search is centred on the Old Timers Camp south of the Gap, just outside Alice Springs, and police hold grave fears for her welfare.
Around 50 police officers, with additional personnel from emergency services agencies including the State Emergency Services (SES), volunteer firefighters and Norforce members, are searching for the five-year-old, who was last seen in her bedroom around 11.30pm on ANZAC Day, 25 April.
Around 1.35am on 26 April, police received reports that Sharon could not be located at her Marshall Court address in the Old Timers Camp.
She was last seen wearing a dark blue short-sleeve T-shirt with a white ring stripe around the neck and white ring stripe around the end of the sleeves, and a pair of black boxer-style underwear.
After the initial report, general duties police and Strike Force Viper members attended the camp and began a doorknock and searches of the immediate area, Detective Acting Superintendent (DAS) Michael Ordelman said.
“They expanded the search area once a 500 metre area was cleared.
“The police drone was deployed with thermal imaging but has failed to locate her at this stage, he told media at a press conference in Alice Springs on Sunday afternoon.
“The police helicopter has been deployed and has a police spotter in it, DAS Ordelman said.
A police dog had also been used in the search which extends in to the dry Todd River DAS Ordelman said.
Additional resources from Search and Rescue section from Darwin had also been called in.
The search has been particularly difficult due to the amount of thick undergrowth, with searchers almost disappearing in the, at times chest high long grass.
DAS Ordelman said a number of people at the camp had been interviewed by Southern Crime detectives, with those interviews continuing.
“We’re building a picture of the occupancy of Old Timer’s Camp.
Although in it’s early stages, the investigation into the little girl’s disappearance was broad and wide ranging with all scenarios being looked into.
“We’re not ruling out anything, DAS Ordelman said.
“Police obviously have concerns because of the time its taken, the age of young Sharon, and we’d like anyone in the community that knows anything, however insignificant they think it is, to contact police so we can find her, and return her to her family.”
DAS Ordelman was unable to comment on how long the search would continue before it was suspended.
Anyone with information to make contact on 131 444 and quote reference number P26120934.
