A stolen ute used by missing Marokopa father Tom Phillips had supplies unloaded from it prior to being dumped, Newshub understands.
On Friday, the ute was located near Te Anga - marking another development in the police investigation into tracking down Phillips and his three children.
When the ute was located, there were few supplies on the back of it - despite it being laden with wire, water canisters and a petrol canister when it was sighted throughout Waikato on Wednesday.
Newshub understands Phillips, or whoever is aiding him, unloaded those supplies prior to the ute being dumped.
Police have said it's believed Phillips was receiving support to enable him to stay missing for such a long period of time.
A source close to the owner of the stolen ute has told Newshub they'd since discovered multiple items of clothing also disappeared from their home after the vehicle was taken on Wednesday morning.
In an update on Saturday, police said there will be an increased presence of officers in south Waikato this weekend as the search for the family continues.
Investigators are now working through information received from the public on the case. Anyone with further information is urged to come forward.
"We believe Tom is going to some effort to conceal his identity, so please let us know of any suspicious activity so that we can follow up," a spokesperson said.
Phillips and his three children Jayda, Maverick and Ember disappeared from the Waikato town of Marokopa for a second time in December 2021.
After no sign of the family for 19 months, there were fresh reported sightings of Tom driving the now-dumped ute - a bronze Toyota Hilux - at three different locations across the Waikato region this week.
He was also captured on CCTV shopping at Te Rapa's Bunnings Warehouse. He was wearing a woollen beanie, a surgical mask and glasses and appeared to be wearing a number of layers of clothing - with police saying he was attempting to disguise himself.
Insp Will Loughrin confirmed on Friday the ute had been found.
"At this time neither Tom nor the children have been located," he told Newshub.
Anyone with information about Tom and the children's whereabouts is urged to call 111, quoting file number 211218/5611.
Timeline
The family first went missing in September 2021 after Tom's car was found parked at Kiritehere Beach, prompting fears they had been swept to sea.
An extensive search and rescue operation was launched to find them but, 17 days later, they reappeared safe and well - having been in the bush for all that time.
Tom was subsequently charged with wasting police time and resources but failed to appear in court in January.
After Tom and the children went missing for a second time in December 2021, they hadn't been seen since - other than the father returning home for a night in February last year.
The latest reported sightings of Tom came at about 12:30pm on Wednesday near Te Awamutu, and around 4pm at two Bunnings stores in Hamilton and later that night on State Highway 1 near Kawhia. He was believed to be driving the now-dumped ute and was "involved in an altercation involving another vehicle", police said.
It's understood that altercation was with the owner of the stolen ute, who tried to ram Phillips off the road.
