News / avon and somerset police
Police treating disappearance of Maddie Thomas as child abduction
Detectives investigating the disappearance of 15-year-old Maddie Thomas are now treating the case as child abduction.
Maddie has been missing from Southmead since April 26 and officers now believe she is likely to be with a man.
Police are now no longer investigating Maddie’s disappearance as a missing person case but as a child abduction.
is needed now More than ever
“When Maddie has previously gone missing she has been found in the company of adult men and it is mainly due to this history that we believe she is likely to currently be with someone,” said detective inspector Laura Miller.
“Maddie is a child in foster care. No one has permission to keep her from her carers. She is vulnerable and at risk of being taken advantage of.
“We’re really concerned about her safety and have a dedicated team working extremely hard to locate her.”
Nobody has seen or heard from Maddie for more than a fortnight since she told a relative that she was going to the shop.
The disappearance of Madison, also known as Maddie, from Southmead is now believed to be child abduction – photo: Avon & Somerset police
Miller said that the circumstances of Maddie’s disappearance “are deeply worrying for us; her family and her carers”.
Police have carried out CCTV enquiries around Southmead and posters have also been handed out to local residents by officers going house to house.
“But Maddie could be anywhere in the country and so we really need our appeal to be shared and reported on as widely as possible,” Miller added.
“We’re asking anyone who sees Maddie to call 999 immediately and anyone who speaks to her or sees her online to call 101.
“Maddie – if you see this please contact us if you can to let us know you’re safe. Everyone is worried about you.”
Main photo: Avon & Somerset police
Read more: Have you seen missing Madison?
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