Hamilton search for missing Australian man

Tuesday, 10 December 2013 - 9:04am

Hamilton Police investigating the unexplained disappearance of an Australian tennis coach in the City over the weekend say they have had sightings of the man reported that they are working to confirm.

Waikato Field Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Karl Thornton, said the last confirmed sighting of 38-year-old Paul Arber was about 9pm Saturday as he walked along Grey St, south towards Cook St and Steele Park.

"Mr Arber is in Hamilton as part of a large group of children, teenagers, parents and caregivers attending a tennis tournament being hosted in the City this week.

"Shortly before the last sighting of him, Mr Arber was seen to stop and pat a dog being walked by a man and woman along Grey St. He had also stopped to speak to a man described by witnesses to be a homeless person who we believe he gave some money to."

Mr Arber's wallet and keys were found on Cook St while his luggage and passport have been recovered from his accommodation.

Mr Thornton said this man was in the vicinity of the Subway store on the eastern side of Grey St.

"Investigators working to establish Mr Arber's whereabouts are very keen to speak to both the couple with the dog and the man who is believed to have received the money from him.

"Our search will continue today and while that is underway investigators hope to speak to members of his family who have arrived from Australia to assist in the search."

Mr Arber is described as a male Caucasian; of slight build about 179cm tall with short dark hair.

At the time Mr Arber went missing he was wearing a grey tracksuit with a tennis logo the left breast of the top and the WILSON tennis logo on the left shoulder of the top.

As Police work to establish with the family any possible reason for Mr Arber's disappearance, Mr Thornton appealed to the public to continue to forward any information on his whereabouts.

"Already members of the public have provided our staff with possible sightings which we're working to confirm or rule out as we build up a picture of what has occurred.

"As time goes on we are becoming increasingly concerned that we have not heard from Mr Arber. He is not familiar with the area and does not know anyone in Hamilton."

Any information that may assist Police in locating Mr Arber can be provided to investigators by contacting the Hamilton Police Station on 07 858 6200 or leaving details at the mobile Police station situated on Grey St in Hamilton East.

Alternatively, information can be left anonymously with the independent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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