
Police issue urgent dashcam plea as search for missing man intensifies
Police issue urgent dashcam plea as search for missing man intensifies
Police have also released CCTV footage showing Steven Smith's last known movements
CCTV footage released showing Steven
(Image: South Wales Police )
Police officers searching for a missing man have issued an urgent dashcam appeal. Steven Smith, 52, from Penrhiwceiber in Mountain Ash, was last seen on CCTV footage on Tuesday morning, May 20.
South Wales Police said it shows Steven leaving his home address on Vaughan Terrace in his white Peugeot Boxer van - registration CE68 TNV - at 10.48am. At 10.51am the same day he went into Jaz, a local convenience store on Church Street in Penrhiwceiber.
Officers said he then returned to his garage at the rear of Vaughan Terrace at 10.57am before leaving again in his van just before 11.33am and heading in the general direction of Abercynon.
Further footage shows Steven driving his van along Abercynon Road in the general direction of Penrhiwceiber at 11.46am where he is seen to turn left onto Cemetery Road.
Detectives are urging anyone with dashcam footage who was in the areas of Vaughan Terrace, Church Street, Abercynon Road or Cemetery Road between the hours of 10.45am and 11pm on Tuesday, May 20 to get in touch.
South Wales Police has released images of Steven from CCTV footage.
Article continues below
Detectives are seeking information
(Image: South Wales police )
They show him wearing what looks like a black or navy t-shirt and dark shorts.
He appears to be carrying a grey or green rucksack.
A spokesman for South Wales Police said: "We would also like to hear from anyone who lives in the vicinity of these areas, especially on Cemetery Road, who may have doorbell or CCTV footage.
Steven Smith was last seen on May 20
(Image: South Wales Police )
"Anyone who may have any information which will help us find Steven is asked to contact us quoting occurrence number 2500160057."
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