Cops search for sex offender loose after monitoring device tampered with

Police are calling on a registered sex offender to turn himself in after allegedly tampering with his monitoring device.

Missing registered sex offender, Theo Briggs. Picture: Victoria Police

Police are searching for a registered sex offender who disappeared after possibly tampering with his electronic monitoring device south of Melbourne’s CBD.

Theo Briggs, who is subject to a supervision order, is believed to have tampered with his monitoring device while in St Kilda about 6pm on Saturday afternoon.

Police were notified and a large-scale search was dispatched over the weekend to find the 32-year-old, including a number of specialist units and local police.

In a statement, Victoria Police said a warrant of apprehension would be applied for on December 2 for the alleged contravention of the supervision order.

Police said Briggs is known to frequent Mooroopna, Shepparton, and Bearii, and has a large number of family members and associates in those locations.

Missing registered sex offender, Theo Briggs. Picture: Victoria Police

On Sunday, officers released an image of the 32-year-old in an appeal to the Melbourne community for any information that may help track him down.

Briggs is described as Aboriginal, 179cm tall with a solid build, brown hair and eyes, and an olive complexion, with tattoos including ‘GOO’ on his right hand.

He also has a cross on his left wrist, a rose and ‘MUM’ on his right wrist, ‘CLARKE’ and ‘Live to fight’ on his lower right forearm, and ‘Fight to live’ on his right forearm.

In a message to Briggs himself, Victoria Police on Sunday called on him to “come forward and make contact with police himself as soon as possible.”

Officers also reminded the community that anyone harbouring or assisting Briggs could also potentially face criminal prosecution if found guilty and convicted.