A large-scale search is continuing Thursday to find a missing 15-year-old boy who was last seen in his neighbourhood in Bradford, Ont., on Saturday morning.
Siem Zerezghi was previously reported to be last seen by his parents Friday night, but on Thursday, investigators obtained security camera footage that shows the missing teen moving north on Longview Drive at 7:45 a.m. Saturday.
“Investigators are appealing to the public, members of the community in that quadrant of Bradford to review any security footage that they have for their home that may show a person wearing a pair of grey pants with an orange stripe,” South Simcoe police Sgt. Dave Phillips told reporters Thursday.
“We believe that additional security systems would have captured images of Siem leaving his home and may lead investigators to fruitful information.”
Zerezghi’s parents noticed he was missing Saturday morning and reported his disappearance to the police, who have been searching for the Bradford teen over the last several days.
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“At this point, there’s no indication as to why Siem has gone missing, and we just want to bring him home safe,” Phillips said.
“If someone has had some interaction with Siem, we would love to hear about what and why. Siem is not in trouble. We want him back, we want him back safe.”
Zerezghi is described to be between five feet eight inches to five feet 11 inches, with a thin build, short buzzed hair and brown/black eyes.
On Thursday, Zerezghi’s eldest sister, Ruta, spoke to the media, pleading for her brother to come home.
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“Siem, my brother, we are worried about you,” she said. “We love you and we miss you. Please come home.”
On Thursday, Phillips told reporters the South Simcoe Police Service is scaling up search efforts and hopes to find Zerezghi that same day.
“We’re still very optimistic that we can find Siem,” Phillips said. “We are investigating all possible avenues at this point and have been since the inception of this investigation.”
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Phillips said Zerezghi and his family moved to Bradford about two years ago. The 15-year-old has attended the local public school system with his siblings and possibly plays the game Fortnite.
“We’re delving into what his likes and interests are,” Phillips said Wednesday. “If there’s a member of the community that interacts with him online, we would like to hear from them.”
Sgt. Phillips said there’s no indication Zerezghi has any access to money or a vehicle and that he’s left without any electronic devices.
“The tips continue to come in,” Phillips said. “We are investigating those tips regardless of where they come from or what they may seem to possess.”
Phillips said investigators are looking at hours of surveillance footage that’s been taken around Bradford and beyond, with the hope of identifying more information.
“There’s no other indications of where he would have went or why,” Phillips said. “That is important to us. If someone out there knows of something, please call us, give us that information so we can investigate those avenues.”
Zerezghi’s home is located in the area of Professor Day and Northgate drives.
Fire services in Bradford and Innisfil are helping out with the search Thursday.
“We have our aerial support unit, our drone unit, that will be here doing patrols over certain parcels of property that we need searched as well,” Phillips said Wednesday.
“We’ve had officers out on ATVs. They’ll continue searching some of the more rural properties around and in close proximity to his last known whereabouts.”
South Simcoe police are asking Bradford residents to search their properties.
“If you have kids that attend Bradford High or Fieldcrest public school … maybe your kids know Siem,” Phillips said.
“Talk to your kids. Ask them, ‘Is there anything you know or anything that can help us?’ The most insignificant thing at this point could tip the scales for us.”
Anyone with information can contact South Simcoe Police at 705-436-2141 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477. Police have also launched an evidence portal where the public can upload security camera footage and images that may help with the investigations.
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