New CCTV footage believed to show New Zealand fugitive Tom Phillips and one of his children allegedly breaking into a convenience store has been released by police. It is the first confirmed sighting of Phillips in a year, nearly four years after he disappeared with his three children.
The footage, captured in the early hours of Wednesday at Piopio Superette in the North Island, shows a masked man and child examining windows before sparks fly as they appear to cut their way in with a power tool. They then load groceries onto a quad bike and drive away.
Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Saunders said police believe the pair in the footage are Phillips and one of his children. He appealed for information about the quad bike travelling between Piopio and Marokopa. Police believe Phillips and a child unsuccessfully targeted the same store in November 2023.
Phillips vanished with his children, now aged 12, 10 and nine, from their Marokopa family farm in December 2021. He does not have legal custody, and police believe the family has been living in the Waikato's King Country bush, receiving outside help to evade discovery.
In May 2023, police linked Phillips to a robbery at an ANZ bank in Te Kūiti, where two armed people demanded cash. A warrant was issued for his arrest on charges including aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding and unlawful possession of a firearm. The previous sighting in October 2024 prompted a large search that was called off after three days.
