Police appear to have had a major breakthrough in the search for missing Melbourne mum Karen Ristevski who disappeared from her Avondale Heights home back on June 29.
Police are conducting their โmost significant search to dateโ as part of the ongoing investigation into the 47-year-oldโs disappearance.
Members of the Missing Persons Squad, Search and Rescue, Mounted Branch, Air Wing, uniform members, Dog Squad and SES volunteers today began searching a number of rural properties northwest of the city in the areas of Toolern Vale and Gisborne.
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โIt is the most significant search weโve conducted to date,โ Detective Steve Dennis from the Missing Persons Squad said during a press conference.
โWeโre very keen to search this area as thoroughly as we can.
โWeโre searching for any evidence or information that would assist us with the search for Karen Ristevski.
โWeโre searching grassland, weโre searching farmland here, any wooded areas, certainly any creeks. We will search where we can.โ
The ABC reports that police have drained a dam in Toolern Vale as part of their search.
This is the second time police have searched the area, however they remained tight-lipped around what has brought them back to the area.
Local residents are being urged to contact police with any information or โany changes or any suspicious activityโ since Ms Ristevskiโs disappearance.
โWe are speaking to all the property owners here,โ added Detective Dennis.
โI would encourage any property owner who has seen anything unusual to contact police.
โWeโll be here as long as it takes to search the area. It is going to be dependant on the terrain. It is quite an extensive area.โ