Police say they believe missing Marokopa man Tom Phillips is armed and a risk to the community.
This morning they offered a $80,000 reward for information on Phillips’ and his three missing children.
Phillips, whose last reported sighting was in August, is believed to be aided by associates in evading capture.
Police say they believe missing Marokopa man Tom Phillips is still armed and a risk to the community and have warned locals off approaching him.
In an update to media at the Hamilton police station this afternoon, Acting Detective Inspector Andy Saunders said they still believe Phillips is somewhere in Marokopa or the surrounding area.
He reiterated that Phillips did not have custody of his children Jayda, Maverick and Ember.
Waikato police this morning announced an $80,000 reward for useful information that would lead to the return of the children. They had also deployed a team to Marokopa as the hunt for the family entered a new phase.
Missing Marokopa man Tom Phillips and his children Jayda, Maverick and Ember. Photos / NZ Police
Saunders said police had issued several appeals to the community since the quartet disappeared, but these hadn’t achieved the desired results so now was the time to issue the reward.
“We haven’t seen them for the last two-and-a-half years. They haven’t interacted with anyone. We’ve got concerns about their health and general welfare,” he said, of the children.
Saunders said immunity would also be considered for anyone who had been helping Phillips.
“We don’t want them waiting months and months to decide. We are giving them a two-week opportunity to come forward.”
Acting Detective Inspector Andy Saunders provides an update on the missing Marokopa family this afternoon. Photo / Mike Scott
The reward was focused on the safe return of the children, not on the arrest of Phillips, he said.
“If Phillips came forward, he would not be a recipient of the money.”
Saunders said he couldn’t speculate whether the people they have already spoken to assisted Phillips. They were targeting people who had direct knowledge of Phillips’ whereabouts.
“If people have been aiding Tom Phillps to evade capture, they may have committed an offence in doing so.”
The wider Phillips family was aware of the operation and was happy to hear a reward had been issued.
‘Committed to finding these children’
In a statement released this morning, Saunders said police believe other people are assisting Phillips and they’re urging those people to come forward.
“We are committed to finding these children and we’re willing to take the step of offering a reward if it will prove the tipping point to help people put the children’s welfare first,” Saunders said.
Information can be provided to the investigation team by contacting the 105 reporting line, quoting the file number 211218/5611, or by emailing the dedicated email address op.curly@police.govt.nz.
“We wish to reiterate that Tom Phillips faces charges in relation to aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding and unlawful possession of a firearm as a result of a criminal investigation separate to the missing persons investigation,” Saunders said.
“Police consider him to be armed and he should not be approached. Sightings of Phillips should be reported to police by calling 111 immediately.”
On the Run
The search for fugitive dad Tom Phillips and his three children
September 11, 2021
Tom Phillips vanishes for the first time with his three young children Jayda, now aged 11, Maverick, now aged 9, and Ember, now aged 7, from a beach near Marokopa.
1 The discovery of his ute on the shoreline sparks a major land and sea search.
2 The quartet later return to a family farm almost three weeks later, with Phillips saying he needed timeout.
Phillips is charged with wasting police resources.
December 9, 2021
Almost a month before a scheduled court appearance, Phillips again takes his children from Marokopa.
An arrest warrant is then issued after he fails to appear before court.
May 2022
The mother of the three missing children makes a public appeal for any information which might lead to their discovery.
She also says she believes that Phillips is “getting help from someone which has allowed them to stay off the grid for the past six months”.
September 2022
Police rule out issuing a reward for any information leading to the safe return of the children and the arrest of Phillips. Soon after the children’s maternal family launch a givealittle which contributes to their own $10,000 reward.
May 16, 2023
3 Phillips allegedly robbed a bank and shot at a supermarket worker in Te Kūiti in May, prompting police to issue a warrant for his arrest on September 5.
Police charged him with aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding and unlawfully possessing a firearm over the armed heist of ANZ Te Kūiti on Rora St on May 16.
August 2, 2023
Phillips is seen driving a ute which is reported to be stolen from near Kāwhia.
4 He is seen in two different Bunnings Warehouse stores, disguising himself with glasses and a surgical facemask. He used cash to buy items, which suggested he may have set up a campsite, including headlamps, batteries, seedlings, buckets and gumboots.
5 Later that day, Phillips gets into a fight with the owner of the stolen ute in Kāwhia. The owner tries to run Phillips off the road. The owner also realises winter clothing is missing from his property.
September 2023
Police revealed they had received 14 reports of sightings of Phillips throughout September.
Detective Inspector Saunders said: “Unfortunately, none of these reported sightings of Tom Phillips or the three children have been positive.”
November 2, 2023
6 Phillips allegedly stole a quad bike from a rural Waikato property and then broke into a shop with one of his children on November 2.
Police appealed for any sightings from the public of Phillips, his children or the stolen quad bike.
7 Security footage from the Piopio shop shows the masked pair smashing the front glass and fleeing north after the alarm was set off about 2am.
June 14, 2024
8 After three days of intensive activity in Marokopa (1), police focus moved to Ōtorohanga
June 25, 2024
$80,000 reward offer from police ends on June 25.
Rachel Maher is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. She has worked for the Herald since 2022.
