A land and air search is under way in bushland in north of Wollongong after CCTV footage showed missing teenager Cassie Olczak getting off a train at Waterfall on Sunday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 16-year-old has been missing since Sunday night after spending the day with friends and catching a southbound train at Banksia, intending to alight at Hurstville.
Police on Wednesday said CCTV had now revealed that Cassie got off the train at Waterfall about 7pm on Sunday but had not been seen since. Waterfall is about 15 kilometres from Hurstville and on the same train line.
An extensive search of bushland in the area, which includes the Royal National Park, had now begun, involving PolAir, trail bikes and the dog squad but so far there has been no trace of her.
“She's got off, she's on her own when he got off the train," acting Superintendent Gary Ford said.
"She's walked off the platform off to the main street area and that's where the camera sightings peter out at that point."
Her mother, Connie Olczak said it was out of character for her daughter, who worked as a model and was due to start a hairdressing course next week, to vanish.
"I need her home," Mrs Olczak said. "My gut tells me she's alive but I'm running out of time, I'm desperate."
Acting Superintendent Ford said there had been a number of reported sightings of Cassie since Sunday, including in Sydney's west, but none of those had been confirmed.
He said it was possible she had met someone but police did not know of her having any friends in that area.
"It's quite possible that she could be with someone at this time but the last sighting of her she was on her own," acting Superintendent Ford said.
"All her known associates ... we've spoken to them and they've indicated that they've had no contact with her since Sunday.
"She hasn't accessed any accounts and there's been no posts on her Facebook."
Mrs Olczak, said she feared her daughter had become disorientated as she was jet-lagged, having arrived back in Australia from a trip to Abu Dhabi 24 hours before she went missing.
She said Cassie was not "street smart" and did not like big crowds.
"I just want to put it out there to all her friends, anyone who knows any information, please help," she said.
"I believe she is disorientated and jet-lagged from a long flight home the night before. I also think she might be scared, she's not a super social person, she will stick to herself.
"She may be on a train, she won't be with massive crowds."
Ms Olczak said she was concerned that someone might have given her daughter "a substance" that had left her confused and disoriented. She urged Cassie to "go for help".
"You're not in trouble. If you're confused or lost, people want to help you. I'm trying, I just don't understand," she said.
Cassie met some friends on Sunday afternoon, when she is understood to have received some news that agitated her.
That news was believed to have involved a boy in their friendship group.
Ms Olczak believes her daughter might have fallen asleep on the train home and that is how she ended up in Waterfall.
Police have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
