Detectives canvas rural community in hunt for Coral

Twenty extra detectives have been brought in today to canvas South Wairarapa residents for information that might help police find six year old Coral Burrows.

Detective Inspector Rod Drew, head of Operation Reef, says the extra investigators who are currently on a course at the Police College, bring a wealth of CIB knowledge with them.

"They must be one of the most experienced teams to be used in area canvas work," he says. "The extra manpower this week gives us a greater opportunity to reach rural people."

Mr Drew says police are committed to finding Coral and determining the circumstances of her disappearance.

Police are today searching Coral’s home because that’s from where she left on Tuesday morning to be dropped in a white Lada station wagon at South Featherston School.

"Our search at Coral’s home is not unusual and is being done with the full cooperation of Coral’s family. We’re simply looking for anything at all that might help find this wee girl or explain her disappearance.

Police still want to hear from people who may have seen vehicles similar to a white Fiat or Lada station wagon in the Rimutaka Hill Road, Featherston and South Wairarapa areas on either Tuesday 9 September or Wednesday 10 September.

The investigation team also wants sightings of Coral or her clothing.

Police today released a photo of a mannequin wearing a pink jacket with diamond shaped flashes on the shoulders, chest and wrist bands, similar to the one Coral was wearing when she was last seen. The photograph of the jacket is available on the police website: http://www.police.govt.nz/operations/reef

"Public support for finding Coral is tremendous and we need this to continue," Mr Drew says.

More than 430 calls have so far been made to the freephone 0508 677 333 or 0508 OP REEF hotline.

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