New CCTV Appears to Show Fugitive Father and Child at Waikato Store

New CCTV released by police appears to show fugitive father Thomas Callam Phillips and one of his three children breaking into a rural convenience store in the early hours of Wednesday, renewing scrutiny of a case that has baffled authorities and divided public opinion for nearly four years. The footage, shot outside the Piopio Superette in the Waikato region, shows two masked figures cutting a padlock with a power tool, loading groceries into containers on a quad bike and leaving after about 13 minutes. Police said they believe the pair are Phillips and one of his children.

Phillips, 38, disappeared from the family farm at Marokopa with his children Jayda, now 12, Maverick, 10, and Ember, 9, in December 2021. He does not have legal custody of the children, and detectives have long said the family has been living off grid in the King Country bush. Phillips is wanted on several charges, including aggravated robbery, aggravated wounding and unlawful possession of a firearm, and police linked him to an armed bank robbery in May 2023. A reward of NZ$80,000 for information leading to the family’s safe return was announced last year.

Detective Senior Sergeant Andy Saunders said...