Five people who have been reported missing from Melbourne’s south east

Thousands of people go missing in Victoria every year, but most are found. Here are five people from Melbourne east and south east who have never returned.

Capturing the global imagination, missing people and their stories are material used in numerous television shows, books and documentaries, but very rarely do people think about people who gone missing from their own suburb.

In Victoria, around 21 people are reported missing to the police everyday. On average, 44 per cent of those reported missing are found within 48 hours, and most people reported missing are either found safe and well, or make contact with their concerned family and friends.

However, not everybody is located or makes contact.

Tej Chitnis

Tej Chitnis disappeared on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, after leaving his Burwood East home around 10am.

He was last seen driving his silver 2005 VW Golf Hatchback, with the registration TTF517.

Tej usually drove to Blackburn railway station where he caught the train to the Deakin University campus in Geelong.

Tej’s car was last seen travelling east on the Maroondah Hwy, in Healesville, near the Green St intersection, on April 27, about 11.34am.

Alarm bells went off when Tej didn’t return to his family home for his father’s birthday.

He normally would return from a uni trip around 4pm.

Since his disappearance, Tej’s family and friends have made multiple public pleas for anyone with information on Tej’s disappearance or potential whereabouts.

On the day he disappeared, Tej was wearing a T-shirt, jeans and black Adidas sneakers.

He is between 170 and 175cm with a medium build, and Indian in appearance.

Tej would be 28 now.

Tej Chitnis, of Burwood East, was last seen in 2016.

Jake Lyons

Jake Lyons disappeared from his Dandenong North home, on Sunday, August 25, 2014 — and there has been nothing from him or about him in eight long years.

Jake’s dad Rick, first knew something was not right when he returned home from work on the same day to an unlocked house, with the gas stove still on.

Investigations by police found Jake had left home at some point during the day, purchased a drink, some snacks and withdrew $50 from a Springvale Rd supermarket in Springvale.

That was the last known sighting of Jake.

Jake has not been heard from or used his bank account since then.

He was last seen wearing a blue hooded jumper, green jeans and black runners.

Police recovered the 2006 silver Holden Astra they believed Jake to be travelling, on August 31 at Warner Reserve in Springvale.

Investigators suspect Jake could have met up with someone at the reserve, but have no further information.

Jake is about 178cm, with a medium build, with brown hair and eyes.

He would be 28 now.

Jake Lyons went missing from his Dandenong North home in 2014.

Shiva Chauhan

Shiva Chauhan disappeared while doing a delivery run at his job in Keysborough on Thursday May 1, 2014.

An alert was raised the following day, after it was discovered he had not finished his delivery shift or attend a prearranged meeting for that afternoon.

The last piece of contact from Shiva had been a text message on the evening of his disappearance about 11.30pm.

Police found Shiva’s van on Hutton Rd, Keysborough, on Friday May 2, at around 3pm, with his personal belongings, wallet and identification still inside.

One of Shiva’s friends, known only as Andy, spoke to media the weekend following his disappearance, saying his friends and family “do believe there was foul play involved”.

“We sort of think someone’s stopped and taken him,” Andy said.

Another friend known as ‘Jap’, held similar fears.

“He was always on the phone. There’s no way he would have actually switched off his phone for three days now.”

Shiva is 177cm with a dark complexion. Shiva had a slim build and dark, straight hair.

Shiva would be 35 now.

Missing delivery driver Shiva Chauhan, was last heard from through text on Thursday May 1 at 11.30pm.

Siriyakorn (Bung) Siriboon

It is one of the most infamous disappearances in Victorian history.

Siriyakorn ‘Bung’ Siriboon went missing after leaving family home in Boronia on Thursday June 2, 2011.

Siriyakorn left her Elsie St home to attend school around 8.25am, wearing her school uniform and a dark blue zip-front jacket, carrying her backpack.

One of the family’s neighbours saw her a short time later walking towards Albert Ave, after which she was never seen or heard from again.

Siriyakorn didn’t arrive to school that day, and never returned home.

Her family and investigators believed her disappearance was out of character.

In 2021, a full decade after her disappearance, investigators revealed they were still receiving calls “every week”.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Justin Tippett continued to urge anyone in the public with information to come forward.

“We have never given up hope that one day we will be able to find out exactly what happened to Bung that day,” he said.

Siriyakorn is 154cm, with a thin build.

She would be 25 today.

Siriyakorn “Bung” Siriboon, disappeared on June 2, 2011.

Sally Cheong

Sze Wan (Sally) Cheong vanished from her family home in Oakleigh South on Wednesday April 2, in 2008.

Sally’s disappearance is puzzling for investigators, because although she left her home with her wallet, phone, car keys, an iPod and a “security” blanket she often carried, there has been no activity on Sally’s bank accounts or phone since then.

She also left her car behind.

Sally’s family and investigators said her disappearance was completely out of character.

Sally’s friend, Catherine Chia, described her as “a gorgeous girl, with an infectious laugh,” in a blog post, not long after Sally’s disappearance.

Sally was very family oriented, and often translated and organised appointments for her parents.

On March 3, 2008, a few weeks before her disappearance, Sally sent an email to a male friend, expressing fear that he would hurt her.

“I’m afraid u gun me down, or get angry,” she had written.

She has not been heard from since vanishing on April 2.

Sally was 162cm with a slim build and would be 37 now.

Sally (Sze Wan) Cheong, (centre), went missing on April 2, 2008.

Police have urged anyone with information that may assist to locate any of these people, to please call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

[e-mail]