Waikato Police investigating the disappearance of a man missing from his east Hamilton home for over a week want to speak to three people who may have information key to their case.
Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton of the Hamilton CIB said 35-year-old Nicholas 'Tommy' ATKINS has not been seen since leaving his Fairview Downs home in the early hours of Saturday 30 July.
He was reported missing by concerned family members on the afternoon of Sunday 31 July.
"On Tuesday members of Mr ATKINS' family located clothing believed to belong to Tommy by a private pier at the bottom of a section near the Boundary Rd Bridge.
"An examination was carried out at the scene where the clothing and footwear was found and a search of the riverbank commenced utilising staff from the Waikato Search and Rescue Squad who have also been conducting searches using the Police rescue boat on the Waikato River."
Though nothing had been found to date, Mr Thornton said information has come to light that may help the Police's enquires.
"We understand a man, described as a Caucasian aged in his late 30s to early 40s, entered the Fairfield Bridge Dairy about 11.30am on the 30th July and told the shop owner he had seen what appeared to be the silhouette of a body in the river.
"There was an elderly couple in the store at the time and they volunteered to accompany the man back to where he had seen something, this would have been about nine hours after Mr ATKINS had last been seen and a day before he was reported missing to Police."
Mr Thornton said Police would like to speak to the man or the couple to establish what they may have seen.
"I would urge anyone who knows who the man or the elderly couple were to contact Hamilton Police on 07 858 6200, your call will be treated in confidence."
Alternatively, they can leave information anonymously with Crimestoppers on 0800 555111."
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