The forensic examination of a house in Hornby linked to the case. Photo: RNZ / Nathan Mckinnon
The search for the body of Christchurch real estate agent Yanfei Bao is being stepped up with more helicopters and people joining the operation.
The 44-year-old went missing while door-knocking on 19 July. She was last seen on Trevor Street in Hornby, where she was meant to show a potential buyer through a house.
Police on Wednesday announced that the investigation into her disappearance had been upgraded to a homicide inquiry and that further charges for a 52-year-old man charged with kidnapping were being considered.
Forensic work has been underway at a property that is for sale in Trevor St, the one Bao was meant to show the buyer through.
On Thursday evening Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves said police had been out in large numbers across Christchurch today as teams worked to locate and return Bao to her family.
Staff in New Brighton Road and Lake Terrace Road and in the suburb of Greenpark have been conducting grid searches of the area.
"We remain committed to finding Ms Bao and more people are expected to join the search tomorrow," she said.
Police Search and Rescue, LandSAR volunteers, Coastguard, Surf Lifesaving, a police specialist search group, a police dog team, Garden City Helicopters and Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (AREC) were expected to be on the ground, water and in the sky on Friday taking part in the search.
A police vehicle in the Lake Ellesmere area. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
The helicopters will be assisting with an aerial search, predominantly of Lake Ellesmere, Reeves said.
The police national dive squad has been on the water in the Halswell River this week.
It has been assisted by Surf Lifesaving personnel throughout the operation, helping to search along the river's banks in Inflatable Rescue Boats.
"The dive squad is utilising sonar technology to search beneath the surface of the water and identify anything that may be of interest," Reeves said.
The dive squad on the Halswell River earlier this week. Photo: RNZ / Nathan McKinnon
Police are still appealing for information about the movement of Bao's car, a silver Nissan Dualis with the registration plate PKT556, on the day she went missing.
Anyone who saw the silver Nissan Dualis after 12.30pm and before 10.45pm is urged to contact police. Bao was last seen on Trevor St just before 10am last Wednesday, police said.
Information can be given to police via 105, either by calling or going online to 'Update Report' using reference file number 230720/5911.
Yanfei Bao Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Open home held at property being searched by police
An open home was held at the house at the centre of an investigation into Bao's disappearance, days after police appealed for help to find her.
Forensic officers are still examining the three-bedroom house, which is being marketed by Yanfei Bao's employer, Harcourts.
Julie Charney, who lives in the street, said an open home was held last Sunday.
"I've just seen people going in to have a look at the house. Nothing out of the ordinary."
Charney said she saw police at the house last Thursday. She said officers returned on Sunday, when they door-knocked and took CCTV footage from a neighbour, before guarding the house that night and setting up a tent on Tuesday.
The tent set up by police outside the property that is for sale in Hornby. Photo: RNZ / Anna Sargent
When asked what had led the police to refocus on the property, Inspector Nicola Reeves said in a statement that the investigation was a exclusively a missing person enquiry up until a day ago when it was elevated to a homicide investigation.
"Over the intervening period, police were investigating several possible lines of enquiry and as a result, certain locations became of interest as the available information evolved."
Charney said it was an eerie and horrible feeling to know that police no longer believed Bao was alive, and her heart went out to her husband and nine-year-old daughter.
"Really devastating for the family. You're meant to go to work and come home. You're not meant to lose your life. It just happened up the road... It's very scary to think how close it was to home."
Another resident, Diana Ajay, said she did not feel safe leaving her house.
"It was very shocking. It was very scary for us. I know all the neighbours around us but now it's like we don't want to get out of the house. It feels very uncomfortable and unsafe now."
Tom Duke also lived in the street. He said he thought the neighbourhood was safe.
"Pretty upset that it happened in our street. I'm a bit disturbed by what has happened. It's scary to have it so close to home."
Jay Li, who has lived in Christchurch for more than 20 years, said he felt shocked and sad about what has happened.
He said there should be better safety measures for people who have to door-knock for their job, like real estate agents or insurance salespeople. He also said more survelliance cameras would help.
"I hope there will be more cameras installed on the main roads. It will make investigations easier if any incident happens in the future. It can save some time, instead of just looking here and there. Time is precious for victims, which shouldn't be wasted."
Harcourts' managing director Bryan Thomson said staff received the news the inquiry had been upgraded to a homicide investigation with heavy hearts.
"Our thoughts are with Yanfei's family, friends, and work colleagues at this deeply challenging time."
