What to do if a person is missing

The missing can be divided into the following groups:

• elderly people;
• people with mental illness;
• minors running away in search of adventure, children from boarding schools, orphanages;
• hunters, fishermen, mushroom pickers, berry gatherers who disappeared in a deserted area;
• drowned people, whose bodies were carried away by the current and not found;
• people who died in places where access is excluded or difficult (basements, switchboards, collectors of city communications).

People also disappear during armed conflicts, natural disasters, plane and ship crashes.

It all depends on the specific situation and on the usual behavior of a particular citizen.

The first sign of loss is the disappearance from the field of view of the loved ones, opposite to the usual behavior (left home for the store and did not return, left the work and did not appear at the home at the usual time, delayed after the school, did not reach the destination).

Other criteria:

• a person does not get in touch for a long time - does not answer calls, SMS, messages in social networks;
• none of his friends and family have information about his whereabouts;
• absence from the workplace;
• documents of the lost are at home, as well as his belongings and money;
• beloved pets were left unattended, the car was abandoned in a wrong place, etc.

Any of these concerns could lead to a police report seeking a missing person.

People can go missing for the following reasons.

• Thirst for adventure, lack of responsibility for their actions, addiction to alcohol, drugs are referred mainly to the people leading an immoral lifestyle.
• Medical reasons when a person can become ill on the street, he can go to the hospital. Persons suffering from mental disorders or memory loss may find themselves far from home and not remember their name, address of residence.
• Criminal reasons are when there are murders, attacks, victims of a robber, kidnapping.
• Intra-family conflicts are quarrels or desire, especially among adolescents, to leave home.

If it comes to minor children, then you need to adhere to the rules:

• always know where the child is going to go, who will be with him as an accompanying person, and at what time the son or daughter should return home;
• set the "speed dial" option in the cell phone to the contacts of parents and police;
• take pictures of your children more often;
• memorize the clothes in which children leave the house;
• learn with the child his name and home address;
• constantly conduct conversations with the child about the observance of personal safety measures;
• tell who the minor can turn to for help in case of force majeure;
• if the capabilities of the mobile device allow, then it is worth installing a special application that makes it possible to determine the location of its owner.

For the seniors, the rules are as follows:

• Copies of medical documents concerning the health status of the elderly person and the medications they are taking must be at home;
• it is advisable to be aware of all places visited by a pensioner;
• have contacts of his neighbors, agree with them about the importance of timely notification in case of any non-standard situation - for example, if an elderly relative does not leave the house for a long time, or the light in his windows is not turned on even in the evening;

if an elderly person has all the signs of incipient dementia, then make sure that there is a note in the pockets of his things (bag, wallet) containing information about him (full name, contacts of relatives) or to sew such information to the items of clothing ...

You can use the following methods in search:

• search using specialized Internet services;
• involvement of volunteer teams - volunteers;
• development of a layout of a leaflet about the search, placement of an advertisement in social networks (city publics, specialized groups) with a request for reposts;
• appeal to local media with a request to place an advertising creeping line about a search, or even a whole reportage in the news;
• posting leaflets;
• periodic calls and, if possible, personal visits to medical institutions;
• study of the.

It is important that law enforcement officers coordinate the search operation.

If a person suffering from senile dementia, mental disabilities left home and did not return on time, then it is necessary:

• notify the medical institution about the incident where the patient is registered;
• call the hospitals;
• bypass the places where a person liked to walk;
• involve volunteer organizations in the search.

Police officers should be warned about the presence of a mental disorder in the lost person, in some situations such people themselves can become dangerous to others.

The location of a person can be determined by the switched on mobile device.

Each mobile device has an individual IMEI code.

IMEI code can be checked online here service for check-up of registration of IMEI.

Information about the location of the subscriber and the details of calls are private information, so they can be obtained after obtaining a special court permission.

If a person disappeared while being abroad, it is necessary to contact the local police and the diplomatic mission (embassy). The embassy will coordinate the work of the local police, keep in touch with the relatives of the missing citizen, and assist in drawing up the necessary statements and collecting the documents.

If a person is missing, you must first inform the police by calling the number "102" or in person at the nearest office.

The information that is important to provide to the police is as follows:

• personal data of the missing person - name, surname, patronymic, age, hair color, special signs in the form of moles, scars or tattoos;
• information about the circumstances under which the person disappeared.

When it comes to a child, you should contact the police as soon as possible.

 The police are obliged to immediately accept and register the application, regardless of the length of absence and the place of the alleged disappearance of the person.

There is no time limit for submitting such an application.

It is a mistake to believe that you can apply only after 3 days have passed since the person disappeared.

At the same time, you need to start carrying out your own mini-investigation - calling friends, colleagues, places where the person liked to be, taking the route that the disappeared used daily, etc.