Thursday, 18 September 2003 - 9:45am |
National News

Sightings of fires and vehicles sought by Op Reef inquiry

1 min read

Reports of smoke from rubbish fires or burnoffs are sought by police investigating the abduction of six year old Coral Burrows.

Detective Inspector Rod Drew, head of Operation Reef, says detectives want to establish if there were any rubbish fires, bonfires or burnoffs, particularly in rural parts of southern Wairarapa, last Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 and 10 September.

&#34Smoke is usually visible from a distance so if people saw fires or had them burning on their properties, we’d like to know about them,&#34 Mr Drew says.

He says there is nothing unusual in this request, it’s simply a case of exploring all possible information sources to try and find out what’s happened to Coral.

Police also want to hear from:

• Motorists who stopped their vehicles in the vicinity of Double Bridges, the scenic lookout and SH2 back towards Featherston on Tuesday and Wednesday 9 and 10 September

• Hunters or trampers who left their vehicles in the above areas during this two-day period

• Owners of vehicles that may have broken down or been left on the roadside in these areas for some other reason.

• Sightings of a beige/fawn coloured Lada sedan in Featherston, Greytown, Martinborough or South Wairarapa on Tuesday last week between 12.30pm and 3.30pm.

• Sightings of a white Lada or Fiat station wagon in the vicinity of the Double Bridges area, South Featherston Road or the wider South Wairarapa area on Tuesday or Wednesday last week.

Nearly 1000 calls have been received on the 0508 677 333 or 0508 OP REEF freephone line.