‘We really love you’: Family plead for help after Perth schoolboy missing for a week

The sister of a missing Perth schoolboy who hasn’t been seen in eight days has made an emotional plea to the public to help find him.

Richard Tu, 17, was last seen getting off the 529 bus on Armadale Road after Seville Drive in Armadale around 9.15pm on Monday, March 31.

He had earlier that night left his family home near Cockburn without telling anyone, and was concealing his face with a hat and mask.

His sister, Rachel, said it was very out of character, and that she feared he was hiding his identity for some unknown reason.

“He never goes out by himself, when he hangs out with friends, he tells us first, and we’ll usually take him there, he would never go out by himself, let alone not tell us where he is,” she said.

“If any part of the community could please help, we’re desperate for anything, the weight’s been really hard on us. Even if you don’t think it matters, please tell us … every bit of detail helps.

“To Richard, if you can see this, we really love you and we really miss you. Whatever it is, we can work through it with you, we’re here for you.”

WA Police Fremantle Inspector Steve Scott said the police did not suspect foul play, but were puzzled by why Richard had left, or where he had gone.

Richard has no mental health concerns and interviews with his family, friends and school community have failed to provide any clues.

“No one has any idea why [he travelled to that area], as far as we know, there is no link for Richard to be in that area,” Scott said.

“We are appealing for anyone who was in that area or surrounds to check their CCTV or dashcam vision so we can understand where he may have gone after that.”

Richard’s phone last pinged on the Monday night he vanished, with police mounting a large-scale search near Bedfordale, but coming up empty-handed.