It is a week since Leigh Matthews was last seen, but the police and the public are working as hard as ever to trace the kidnapped student, police said on Friday.
”We must find her, that’s all. There is no way anyone will lose hope,” said Superintendent Chris Wilken.
He said support from the public has not diminished and urged people to continue to report anything they think may help in the investigation.
”We must be positive all the time.”
Twenty-one-year-old Leigh disappeared from outside her university on Friday last week. Her family has been trying everything to get her back.
Father Rob Matthews said he followed all the instructions given by her captors and delivered the money as they asked.
When she was not returned, the family involved the police and media while offering a reward for information leading to her safe return.
A call centre was also set up to deal with the ”overwhelming” response from the public.
”We appeal to anyone who has already tried to give us information that could be of assistance and who isn’t sure whether we received it, or who hasn’t been able to get through to us before, to please try again,” said Matthews on Wednesday.
Matthews believes his child could be anywhere in the country.
Wilken said police are looking into all possibilities.
Leigh is 1,7 metres in height. She has long blond hair and was wearing a brownish-red sweater and blue jeans at the time of her disappearance.
Anyone with information should call Tel: (011) 497 7343/082 568 4668.
”You do not have to identify yourself,” said Matthews. — Sapa