A white ute has been seized by police from an abandoned property near where a young autistic boy went missing two days ago.
Anthony ‘AJ’ Elfalak, three, was last seen at 11.45am on Friday morning at his home in Putty, 150km north-west of Sydney.
After teams of searchers and a private helicopter spent the weekend scouring the area, police on Sunday night towed away a white ute they labelled a ‘vehicle of interest’ from a property about 1km south from the Elfalak’s home.
Anthony ‘AJ’ Elfalak (pictured) went missing on Friday with search crews scouring the area
AJ’s mother Kelly Elfalak (pictured) has raised concerns that her son may have been abducted
SES crews have indicated they will continue looking for the boy on Sunday night and into Monday – but police have warned locals they could be fined for breaching lockdown laws if they join the search.
Fifteen dams on the property are a focus of the search with one being drained on Sunday morning.
‘It’s very stressful, a kid just doesn’t pick up and disappear,’ AJ’s father Anthony told 9 News.
‘Not from here, not from these parts… We’re not doing too well,’ he added.
His mother Kelly Elfalak says she only turned her head for a moment and the young boy was gone.
She said her son never wanders too far and thinks there may be a more sinister reason for his disappearance.
Police seized a white ute (pictured) from a property 1km south from the Elfalak’s property on Sunday night
SES search crews (pictured) spent the weekend searching the area for the boy and are set to continue on Sunday night and Monday
The 250-hectare property where he was last seen has difficult terrain, making the search even more difficult for authorities
‘I think he’s been taken. If he was around here, I would’ve found him by now,’ she said.
‘He holds my hand all day, all night. We are together all the time.’
A neighbour claimed to have seen a ‘suspicious’ white Toyota ute on the property’s private access road hours before AJ disappeared.
The 250-hectare property where he was last seen has difficult terrain, making the search even more difficult for authorities
Police have been conducting a search using trail bike officers, Police Rescue, the Dog Unit, police divers and helicopters but have asked the public to stay at home to avoid breaking Covid restrictions.
‘Police are absolutely looking into every angle possible in relation to AJ’s disappearance,’ Superintendent Tracy Chapman said.
‘Obviously our focus is very much around the search and trying to locate AJ.’
Police cars (pictured) near the area where the boy was last seen on Friday
They boy went missing from a property at Putty 150km north west of Sydney
A desperate search is underway for three-year-old ‘AJ’ Elfalak who disappeared from a rural property more than 48 hours ago
Police tow the white ute (pictured) away as a ‘vehicle of interest’ in the search for ‘AJ’
The three-year-old boy with autism was last seen at a home on Yengo Drive, Putty, 75km south of Singleton in regional NSW just before midday on Friday
The ute seized by police as a ‘vehicle of interest’ on Sunday night (pictured)
Anyone with information about the vehicle (pictured) or boy should contact Crime Stoppers
Police will now examine the vehicle as SES search teams continue to look for the boy
NSW Ambulance, State Emergency Service, Rural Fire Service and the Volunteer Rescue Association have also assisted in the search.
Authorities worked through the night to find the missing boy and more than 100 emergency services volunteers are still continuing the search on Saturday morning.
Anthony lives with autism and is non-verbal.
The young boy lives who lives with autism and is non-verbal is believed to be wearing a grey jumper and pants, and sneakers
Authorities worked through the night to find the missing boy, and are still continuing the search into Saturday evening
The young boy is described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, with short dark hair and is believed to be wearing a grey jumper and pants, and sneakers.
NSW Police said in a statement public assistance is not required in the search for the young boy and reminded people that Covid-19 Public Health Order restrictions still apply in the region.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Police and SES crews in the area (pictured) still hold out hope they can locate the young autistic boy and are set to continue the search on Monday