Cleo Smith found: Alleged trip to buy nappies suspicious

Locals thought it was strange when they allegedly saw their neighbour buying nappies. But then a $1 million reward was offered in the case of Cleo Smith.

Those in the small community of Carnarvon thought it was strange when they allegedly saw their neighbour buying nappies at the local Woolworths.

The 36-year-old was not known to have had a child and the neighbours have also told police he was buying other goods fit for a child at the nearby supermarket.

As he was a loner, they thought little more of his consumer habits.

But then a $1 million reward was offered for information that could help find missing four-year-old Cleo Smith and suddenly the Carnarvon community - with a population about 4500 - was electrified and every allegedly unusual move was reported into Task Force Rodia.

Cleo Smith went missing in remote WA. Picture: Facebook

There was so much information coming in the Task Force was expanded to look at CCTV, analyse facial recognition technology and track social media chatter.

It was also tasked to follow hundreds of tips on neighbours and locals, some whom had relevant form and convictions, and anyone who may have had an association with the family.

The Australian Federal Police also assisted with “secret” technology believe to be related to telephone intercepts and pinging tower technology as well as drones.

The moment Cleo Smith was rescued by police. Picture: WA Police

Detectives had believed the perpetrator may have been “brazen” but opportunistic and who may have seen Cleo and targeted her or may have come across her at some point.

Detectives were collating the information, following up every tip and soon his more allegedly unusual activity - including doing laps of his own property on Tonkin Crescent before pulling onto the driveway - brought him to police attention.

He then moved his dog from the back of his house to the front.

As police used a battering ram and a crowbar to get into his house and rescue Cleo, the man was being arrested elsehwre almost simultaneously.

Police outside the Carnarvon house where Cleo Smith was found. Picture: 9News

Rennee Turner drove to her sister’s house on the street where Cleo was found as soon as she heard the news, which she initially thought could not be true.

Ms Turner told the Geraldton Guardian she did a construction course with the man.

“He is a very quiet guy ... it has completely derailed me,” she said.

“I’d heard whispers … I kind of figured the police might have had an idea of what was going on, because I have never seen such a massive amount of cops here for so long.”

It had yet to be established whether Cleo was kept at that property since her alleged abduction or elsehwre but many on Tonkin Crescent said they were in shock.

“We really are in shock, that it happened here,” said one neighbour who lives a few doors down from the property.

“We saw him buying Kimbies (nappies) at Woolworths but didn’t think … we are all a bit shocked that this has happened here on our street.”

WA Police sift through more than 50 cubic metres of rubbish from roadside bins as far north as Minilya to as far south as Geraldton in the search for Cleo Smith. Picture: WA Police

Police were understood to be interviewing staff at the Woolworths supermarket and nearby petrol station to attempt to trace the suspect’s movements and buying habits in recent days.

Woolworths corporate national headquarters in Sydney declined to comment yesterday.

“As this relates to an ongoing police investigation, we’re not able to comment,” a spokeswoman said.

Many locals were taking late night walks or playing football when detectives arrived at the house to rescue Cleo.

Henry Dodd said he had been playing basketball with his mates on Tuesday night when he saw police start to circle the house.

“They pulled up, they were driving up and down about 9pm, then they ended up cracking into the house around 1am,” he said.

Sahntayah McKenzie also lives on the street and said she thought she heard crying one night, but did not think anything of it at the time.

“Not last night, the night before it … I heard a little girl crying but I wouldn’t expect it to be Cleo,” she said.

“I didn’t expect it would happen in this little neighbourhood, a lot of people know each other.”

Originally published as Cleo Smith found: Alleged trip to buy nappies suspicious