Nearly four years after vanishing into the wilderness with his three children, fugitive father Tom Phillips has resurfaced in dramatic fashion. New CCTV footage released by New Zealand police appears to show Phillips and one of his children carrying out a burglary at a local store, reigniting public concern and intensifying the search.
The footage shows a masked man—believed to be Phillips—breaking into the Piopio Superette with a power tool, while a child helps load groceries onto a quad bike before fleeing. Police say the incident mirrors a previous burglary at the same store in 2023, linking Phillips once again to criminal activity as he continues to evade capture. Authorities are urging anyone who may have seen the quad bike in the Piopio and Marokopa areas to come forward with information.
Phillips, an experienced outdoorsman, disappeared from Marokopa in 2021 with his children—Jayda, Maverick, and Ember—after a custody dispute. Despite extensive searches across the rugged King Country terrain, the family has repeatedly eluded police. The last confirmed sighting was in October 2024, when hunters recorded footage of them moving through farmland.
Over the years, Phillips has been tied to several crimes, including an armed robbery in 2023. Yet beyond the allegations, the case has carried a deeply human weight. His sister Rozzi and their mother have made repeated public appeals, pleading for the safe return of the children and expressing anguish at the long separation.
The latest CCTV images serve as both evidence of the family’s survival and a stark reminder of the challenges authorities face. For New Zealanders, the story blends mystery, fear, and compassion—a family hidden in the bush, children growing up in isolation, and a father increasingly marked as both protector and criminal.
As the investigation continues, police stress that the children’s safety remains the top priority. The public, meanwhile, is left asking how much longer this extraordinary case can continue—and whether resolution will come through law enforcement, family intervention, or an eventual surrender.