Time could be running out for one of the country's most-wanted men.
Missing Marokopa father Tom Phillips has been on the run with his three young children Jayda, Maverick and Ember for 19 months but Police have revealed there were a number of "credible" sightings of him in Waikato on Wednesday. His three children were not with him.
A stolen bronze-coloured 2003 Toyota Hilux, driven by a man believed to be the elusive 36-year-old, was first seen at 12:30pm in the Pokuru area near Te Awamutu, heading north towards Hamilton.
Police say at 4pm, someone known to Phillips saw him in the Bunnings car park at Te Rapa, Hamilton.
"At 6:45pm on Kawhia Road, there was an altercation between Tom and a member of the community. That altercation led to that person ringing police," said Waikato Area Commander Inspector Will Loughrin.
"The investigation team have been able to put a number of things together that satisfy us that it was Tom Phillips that was in that vehicle last night and was the person sighted in these three separate locations," said Insp Loughrin.
Police put Auckland's Eagle helicopter up, and deployed teams to Kawhia but Phillips disappeared in the ute.
CCTV pictures from the Te Rapa Bunnings sighting suggest the ute was laden with water containers, petrol canisters and tubs.
Insp Loughrin would not divulge what Phillips' demeanour was like at the time of the Wednesday sightings.
"Tom, we need you to come in and resolve this. Eighteen months is too long. The kids need to see their grandparents, siblings and mother. We need to bring this to a close," said Insp Loughrin.
Phillips initially disappeared with Jayda, Maverick and Ember for 19 days, sparking a major search and rescue operation in September 2021.
It emerged they'd been living in a tent in dense bush 15 kilometres from his parents' Marokopa home.
He was charged with wasteful deployment of police personnel and resources, then breached a custody order when he disappeared again with them in December 2021.
The children have not been seen since.
Phillips failed to appear in the Te Kuiti District Court in January last year on the charge, but police say he returned briefly to Marokopa overnight in February.
"We believe there are people in the community who know where Tom is and we also believe they are assisting him and I urge them to get in touch," Insp Loughrin said.
The safety of the children is the paramount concern for those who've been supporting family in the search.
Private investigator Chris Budge, who has been assisting the children's mother and their half-siblings, believes Phillips is "smart enough to know the net might be closing in on him" and is probably regretting what he did in Kawhia on Wednesday.
"My fear is he does something silly, so Tom if you are listening - time to ring up and get this finished."
Police would not be drawn on whether the 36-year-old is dangerous but are urging the public that rather than approach him, they should urgently call 111 if they see Phillips, the ute or the children.
Phillips has been known to change his appearance during the time he's been on the run.
Police say a description of what he looked like when he was seen on Wednesday will be released in due course.
