Elsies River police have confirmed reports that they commenced with the searching of wheelie bins to try and find Courtney Peters (3) who went missing last week.
Courtney was last seen on Thursday 4 May playing with her friends in Pluto Street in Salberau.
Police spokesperson, Captain Daphne O’Reilly, says police commenced with the search on Monday afternoon (8 May) and searched 80 houses, yards and wheelie bins ahead of the collection of waste by the City of Cape Town today (Tuesday 9 May). The houses searched are all in the vicinity of where Courtney was last seen.
She says on Tuesday morning, the local neighbourhood watch began searching wheelie bins put out on the street, but there is still no sign of Courtney.
O’Reilly says fake messages being shared on social media about Courtney’s whereabouts are problematic for police who are following up all leads. This follows a WhatsApp message being shared on Monday indicating that the body of Courtney was spotted near the local swimming pool.
“We have to follow up on all leads and to date there has not been a positive result. Yesterday we received a tip-off about a child in the Cape Town CBD and the investigating officer went to the scene and obtained the footage of the child spotted with adults. It was shown to the family who have confirmed that it was not Courtney. The fake messages are very problematic and we ask that people refrain from sharing information that has not been verified as police are sent in different directions and when this information proves to be false, it wastes time.”
At the time of her disappearance, Courtney was wearing a white and yellow t-shirt with blue shorts.
Anyone with information is asked to call the investigating officer on 079 894 0107 or Elsies River police on 021 933 0308.
