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Cleo Smith search: Five ways you can help find the missing four-year-old who disappeared from the Blowholes

Staff writersThe West Australian
The public’s help could be crucial to solving the case of missing Cleo Smith.
Camera IconThe public’s help could be crucial to solving the case of missing Cleo Smith. Credit: The West Australian/Facebook/Ellie Smith

While a 100-strong taskforce of trained police officers are chasing down every lead to find little Cleo Smith, all West Australians have a part to play in the unprecedented investigation into her disappearance.

The search for the four-year-old who vanished from her family’s tent at the Blowholes campground near Carnarvon has gripped the State, and left many people wondering how they can help.

Police hold grave concerns for Cleo’s safety and believe “someone knows what happened to her”.

The State Government is offering a $1 million reward for information that leads to her return or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her suspicious disappearance.

Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde said has encouraged people to continue sending important bits of information to police, saying they had been a great help so far in the case.

“If anyone has information, again I will say that there is a $1 million reward, so if anyone has information about someone that’s been involved and taken Cleo from the campsite, come forward and give us that information please.

“There is a monetary reward there for you as well,” he said.

Support from the public could be crucial to solving the case and police say there are five important ways people can help.

1. Be familiar with what Cleo looks like and keep an eye out for her when out and about, whether you live in Esperance, Perth or Kalgoorlie or anywhere in between.

Cleo was last seen sleeping in a red and black sleeping bag and was wearing a pink/purple one-piece sleep-suit with a blue and yellow pattern. Cleo is approximately 110cms tall with honey blonde coloured hair and hazel eyes.

Posters displaying Cleo’s picture are being displayed around the State.
Camera IconPosters displaying Cleo’s picture are being displayed around the State. Credit: Grace Hendry/Broome Advertiser

2. Report any suspicious behaviour you think may be linked to her disappearance, big or small.

Police have urged anyone who stayed overnight at the Blowholes campground on Friday, October 15 or who were in the area and did not stay overnight, to contact them on 131 444. But they admit the little girl could be anywhere in the State, so any information could prove critical.

A Bonds onesie like the one that Cleo was wearing when she disappeared.
Camera IconA Bonds onesie like the one that Cleo was wearing when she disappeared. Credit: Supplied/WA Police

3. Keep an eye out for the sleeping bag and onesie that she was wearing when she disappeared.

When Cleo vanished in the early hours of the morning on October 16 she was wearing a pink floral onesie with a long front zip. What’s added to police suspicions that she has been kidnapped, rather than become lost, is that fact that the Wanderer sleeping bag she was sleeping in has also disappeared. Finding either of these items would be represent a major breakthrough in the case.

Cleo’s sleeping bag is still missing.
Camera IconCleo’s sleeping bag is still missing. Credit: Supplied/WA Police

4. Check your CCTV or dash-cam footage, it could help the investigation.

Police have called for any CCTV or dash cam footage from within a 1000km radius of the Blowholes campground. they are particularly interested in vision of the North West Coastal Highway in the hours around when Cleo went missing.

5. Don’t go online and spout conspiracies and rumours – if you have legitimate information you want to share, tell police!

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have all been filled with the theories of armchair detectives, speculating about who may or may not have taken Cleo. At best these are unhelpful, at worst they are defamatory and add to the heartache of the family. Anyone with a legitimate tip on what may have happened to Cleo should be contacting police.

If you have any information that could help the investigation please call 131 444.

Vision can be uploaded direct to police here.

Download the Cleo Smith missing person poster.

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