Overview

• Footage from about 2 a.m. in Piopio shows two masked people loading groceries onto a quad bike outside Piopio Superette shortly before a burglary.
• Detectives say they believe the pair are Tom Phillips and one of his three children and report the duo were at the scene for 13 minutes before departing by quad bike.
• Investigators are examining links to a failed attempt at the same store in November 2023 and have appealed for sightings of a quad bike traveling between Piopio and Marokopa.
• Phillips faces outstanding charges including an alleged armed ANZ bank robbery in May 2023, aggravated wounding, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
• Police believe the family is living off-grid with possible outside assistance, note that Phillips does not have legal custody of the children, and recall a previously announced NZ$80,000 reward for information.