A 17-year-old girl has been missing for more than two days, with police appealing to the public to help locate the Clyde teenager.
Caitlin Blanch was last seen hopping off the school bus at around 8am on Tuesday, July 27, in her hometown of Clyde - a small town in Central Otago.
Police and LandSAR volunteers from the Otago area have been searching and making extensive enquiries into Caitlin's whereabouts, a police spokesperson said in a statement on Thursday.
The investigation has involved additional searching around the fringes of Alexandra and speaking with residents in the area.
But new information has led police to believe that Caitlin is not in the area being searched, the spokesperson said.
"While she may be in the Galloway area, she has possibly travelled outside of Alexandra."
Police have been unable to locate Caitlin and are now appealing to the public to help.
Caitlin is described as being of medium build, 175cm tall, and is believed to be wearing a black jacket, black jeans, black boots and a dark green jersey.
Caitlin's family and police are concerned for her welfare. Anyone who has seen Caitlin is urged to contact police immediately.
Anyone with information about her whereabouts or wellbeing is urged to call police on 105, quoting file number 210728/6065.
"It would be of great comfort to her family and could assist police in their concerns for her."
