More Details Released of Alice's Last Known Movements
A fortnight on from her disappearance police focus on missing iPhone
Detectives investigating the disappearance of 14-year-old Alice Gross have released more details of her last known movements. They are particularly keen to trace Alice's phone which has not been accessed since the day she went missing. They believe there is a possibility that someone not connected with her disappearance may have taken it from her rucksack which has been found on a canal towpath.
They have pieced together the last known sightings of Alice on that Thursday from CCTV, but they still have not heard from any witnesses who saw her after 4.30pm on 28th August.
Alice with iPhone police are trying to trace
The investigating team urgently needs to hear from anyone who saw Alice between 1.02pm, when she was in Church Path, and 4.26pm when she was walking along Trumpers Way, towards Hanwell. So far no CCTV has been traced that shows Alice after this time. An interactive map of her movements is displayed below.
Alice's rucksack was found by police on Tuesday, 2 September in the undergrowth on the footpath that runs beside the River Brent between Hanwell Bridge and the Grand Union Canal.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Chalmers, who is leading the investigation to find Alice, said: "Today I am asking for some very specific help from the public. We know that Alice's bag was first found the day after she was last seen by two builders, who we have spoken to, who put it back down in the same spot on the towpath. What we do not know is if anyone saw or found Alice's bag between when she was last caught on CCTV and when the builders found it.
"In that bag was a pair of Vans trainers, which we think she was wearing when she left home, underwear, her lunch box and the rubbish from her lunch. We also know that Alice's iPhone was last used to send a text to her Dad on that Thursday."
That text was to alert her father that she was on her way home at around 3pm and that she didn't have any keys with here. The phone had also been used to access the internet but police say that this may have been “background activity”.
As her trainers were found in the rucksack police are investigating the possibility that she acquired new footwear at some point during the day.
DCI Chalmers briefs the media at New Scotland Yard today
DCI Chalmers also stressed the importance of finding Alice's mobile phone saying, "I need to know if anyone found Alice's bag before the builders and was anything taken from it, or if anyone has her iPhone. Did you find or see a white iPhone 4s with a cracked rear case, that Alice had decorated with marker pen? If you did do you still have it?
"I can assure you that if you did or you know someone that did, you are not in trouble, but you may have vital information that can take us one step further to finding Alice."
The phone went off at 5.00pm though this may have been a result of the battery running out.
DCI Chalmers added, "There has been speculation that a family disagreement sparked Alice's disappearance. It didn't. Alice went out that day just like usual. Her family are distraught. Their daughter has now not been seen or heard from for 14 days. Please help us find Alice and bring her home to them."
Alice's family, said: "We all dearly love and miss Alice, not only her whole family but also her friends, teachers and the wider community. The past two weeks without her have been heartbreaking.
"Alice if you see or hear our appeals please let us know you are ok. We think about you constantly and are desperate for you to come home.
"If anyone has any information about where Alice is please, please contact the police."
Alice is white, 5 ft 2ins tall and of very slim build with shoulder-length, light brown hair.
| Full breakdown of sightings of Alice Gross on Thursday, 28 August 2014 | |
| c.13:00hrs | Alice leaves home on foot |
| 13:00hrs | Alice caught on CCTV walking along Campbell Road, past Hanwell Station |
| 13:02hrs | Alice caught on CCTV walking along Golden Manor and then Alwyn Road |
| 13:13hrs | Alice is caught on CCTV walking along the river path in the direction of Hanwell Bridge |
| 13:15hrs | Alice is caught on CCTV walking along the Uxbridge Road |
| 13:26hrs | Alice is caught on CCTV in Windmill Lane. She then followed the Grand Union Canal towpath until it reached the Thames, walking towards Kew |
| 14:23hrs | Alice is caught on CCTV near the Holiday Inn, Commerce Road |
| 15:45hrs | Alice is caught on CCTV at Brentford Lock |
| 15:56hrs | Alice is caught on CCTV close to the GlaxoSmithKline building based in Great West Road |
| 16:02hrs | Alice is caught on CCTV opposite Transport Avenue |
| 16:23hrs | Three cyclists, followed by two cyclists, are caught on CCTV riding on the towpath under Trumpers Way, that crosses the Grand Union Canal |
| 16:25hrs | Alice is caught on CCTV walking in the same place |
| 16:26hrs | The last sighting of Alice that is captured on CCTV shows her on Trumpers Way, the bridge that crosses the Grand Union Canal. She was headed in the direction of Hanwell |
When Alice left home, she was wearing dark blue jeans and a grey top. She was carrying a dark rucksack and may have been wearing denim blue 'Vans' shoes and tartan-framed glasses.
Anyone who has seen Alice or has information that may assist the investigation should call the Incident Room on 020 8358 0100 or Ealing Missing Persons Unit on 020 8246 1018 or 101. Alternatively call the charity Missing People on 116000.
Alice's sister, Nina, has set up a Facebook page to appeal for information which can be found here: www.facebook.com/groups/435881003216659/?fref=ts
September 11, 2014