First use of Emergency Alert system helps police locate missing woman

A missing 77-year-old woman was located last night with the assistance of the Emergency Alert system.  

This is the first time the system has been used by ACT Policing.  

The Pearce woman was reported missing by family yesterday afternoon (Tuesday, 17 October 2023), with a subsequent search of the surrounding area failing to locate her.  

A media release and social media posts were issued however the woman had still not been located.  

With concerns for her welfare growing, about 10.15pm a geo-located SMS Emergency Alert was issued, which went to more than 60,000 mobile phones in the Woden area.  

The missing woman was located shortly before 11.00pm in bushland in the Mount Taylor Nature Reserve near Chifley. A member of the public had seen her in the area earlier in the evening and after recieving the Emergency Alert SMS, called police. An ACT State Emergency Service search crew (one of three SES teams that were assisting in the search operation) was directed to the area and they located the missing woman huddled on the ground.   

ACT Policing may use this alert system for emergencies including high-risk missing persons, terrorist incidents, active offender incidents, or Amber Alerts; the ACT Emergency Services Agency will continue to use the Emergency Alert system for incidents including fire, floods, or significant storms.    

An Emergency Alert will be sent by the number '0444 444 444' – this is how you know a message is a genuine Emergency Alert.  

ACT Policing is asking Canberrans to save this number in their phone as ‘Emergency Alert’ so they are not caught off-guard when an alert is issued.   

This number is not monitored. Please do not report information about incidents to this number. Continue to report information to Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000, Police Assistance 131 444 or call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. 

Further information regarding the Emergency Alert system can be found at https://www.emergencyalert.gov.au/home.   

MEDIA ENQUIRIES  

POLICE MEDIA — (02) 5126 9070,  act-police-media@afp.gov.au