After a fresh sighting of missing fugitive Tom Phillips, Waikato police say the Marokopa father poses a risk to anyone trying to stop him, and the children’s safety is still their top priority.
Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Saunders said this means they are not looking at escalating their tactics, and the community needs only to look at the extensive list of charges Phillips is wanted for to see why.
“Well, if you go back and look at the current charges he’s facing, that was a serious violence offence committed with firearms, where a member of the public attempted to tackle him and was shot at.”
It came after police released fresh footage of Phillips and one of his children being caught on CCTV cameras using a power tool, suspected to be an angle grinder, to break into the Piopio Superette, a general store he previously targeted in 2023.
Sparks flew before the pair made away with a haul of general grocery items in the early hours of Wednesday.
At a press conference this morning, Saunders said they were still analysing CCTV and comparing it with previous footage, but he is “confident” it was Phillips. They were still trying to work out which child it was.
He said this new sighting could mean Phillips had fallen out with one of his supporters. Police have maintained they believe people in the rural Waikato community are helping the fugitive father.
Saunders said he was not looking at bringing in an elevated response, such as the SAS, at this stage, considering the possible risk Phillips poses.
“This will take as long as it takes. Our focus is to bring those children out safely. We’re not going to get into a confrontation situation.”
He said they still want to speak to anyone who is helping Phillips or has helped him previously.
“We want them to sit down with us and work out how we can get those children out safely,” Saunders said.
He said no one had come forward so far.
“Our focus is the children,” said Saunders.
“Every time we get new information or something like this happens, we re-evaluate and go, ‘well, what does this mean for the investigation?’. In terms of searching specific areas, we do have concerns around the risk Tom poses.”
Saunders said Phillips “seemed very comfortable” and spent 14 minutes in the area before the burglary was committed.
“And, yes, it certainly appears they’re looking at the cameras, but as you’ll see, they’re covered.”
Saunders said the investigation is looking closely into where the quad bike travelled to after the burglary.
The footage shows the man, assumed to be Phillips, and one of his children, targeting a back entrance of the Piopio Superette, which is covered with metal bars.
The child’s face is concealed by a piece of fabric stuck under their cap. The man has his hood pulled up, the cords drawn tightly to hide his face.
The pair use headlamps to scout the side of the building, not straying far from their quad bike, parked nearby on Ruru St.
At several points, the child can be seen pointing at the shop’s rear door, a security camera, a window, and then looking up at the man, apparently in conversation with him.
Sparks fly as a power tool is used to break into the store.
The footage shows the pair returning to the quad bike with goods, and turning to speed south down Ruru St in the direction of Aria.
A Piopio Superette worker told the Herald it had not been broken into this week.
A nearby cafe worker had no knowledge of the new Phillips sighting and had not been spoken to by police this week.
Saunders said Phillips faced charges, including aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding and unlawful possession of a firearm.
“At the heart of this are three children who have been away from their home for four years. Their well-being is our main focus.”
Phillips and his three children disappeared from their family farm in Marokopa in December 2021. His immediate family have refused to give interviews for almost four years.
In a heartfelt plea earlier in August, his sister Rozzi reiterated that the family were still willing to help him.
“You’re very special to me. You’re my friend, as well as my brother, and I love you, and it’s okay.”
Phillips and the children were last seen in October 2024, when they were filmed by two pig hunters walking through Marokopa farmland.
This winter marks the family’s fourth in Waikato’s King Country bush.
Jayda, Maverick and Ember were 8, 7 and 5 when they went into hiding. They are now 12, 10 and 9.
Police believe Phillips is being helped to evade discovery and is probably receiving supplies from the outside world.
In June last year, a reward of $80,000 was offered for information about the family’s whereabouts.