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Air and ground searches resume for Mandy Thompson

Mild weather conditions will assist search teams to cover previously searched areas, say police

Officers from Barrie Police and the OPP are again scouring the outskirts of Barrie for Mandy Thompson.

The joint search for the missing senior resumed Tuesday morning due to recent mild weather. 

About 30 officers from each service along with volunteers from Georgian Bay Search and Rescue will focus on areas east of Penetanguishene Road, into Oro-Medonte Township. 

"What we're doing is essentially we're searching all the areas that we previously covered including any possible new areas," said Barrie Police Const. Sarah Bamford. "The reason why we're doing it again is because of the mild weather conditions. It's going to assist our search teams to thoroughly cover the previous areas that were searched.:"

Canine Units, the UAV and the OPP helicopter are also searching on the ground and from the air. 

Thompson, 72, wandered away from her Laidlaw Drive home on Feb. 3 around 7:30 a.m.

A woman believed to be the missing senior with dementia was captured on surveillance camera video walking northbound on Penetanguishene Rd. around 10 a.m. that morning. 

She was wearing a black knee length jacket and white running shoes when she was reported missing.

A joint services search for Thompson was conducted for eight days immediately following her disappearance.

It's not known how long this renewed effort will last.

"We're just going to take it day by day at this point," Bamford said. 

Investigators are requesting anyone living in the north-east end of Barrie and areas east of Penetanguishene Road to thoroughly check their properties including barns, sheds, vehicles, garages and any receptacles on their properties.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Barrie Police Tip Line at (705)725-7025 ext. 2160. Anonymous tips can also be provided to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or online at www.tipsubmit.com.