‘If that was you, you’d like to think people would come and search for you,’ says organiser
A GROUP of residents in Cardiff are calling for more support from the public to help find a missing local woman.
Charlene Hobbs, 36 and from Riverside, hasn’t been seen since last July.
On Friday, police renewed their appeal for information and released unseen CCTV footage of Charlene in Morrisons Local in Adamsdown on July 23 – the day before the last confirmed sighting of her.
But while the police search for Charlene continues, some residents in Cardiff have been disappointed by the lack of public interest in Charlene’s case.
Cherie Arlett, a Grangetown resident and local radio host, says that compared to other cases of missing people over the last few years, Charlene’s case hasn’t received the attention it deserves.
“You usually see a lot of people organising behind searches. I would notice police posts about Charlene but I didn’t see any organisation from the community.
“Everyone who knows her says, regardless of her lifestyle, Charlene is a lovely woman. She is somebody’s mother, she’s got kids, she’s got a family. It breaks my heart that she hasn’t come home regardless of the situation or what has happened. If that was you, you’d like to think people would come and search for you. She’s human, regardless of anything.” she said.
Cherie was inspired to help after she saw a social media post from a psychic medium who claimed to have seen visions of places to search for Charlene. Now, along with a small group of other residents, Cherie has started organising weekly searches around Cardiff based on those ideas.
The group has already covered 10 miles of search area, including West Point industrial estate and Grangemoor Park. They are hoping to hold search parties every weekend, usually on a Sunday, and are calling on others to lend a hand.
“Experts, non-experts, anyone can help – even if it’s for half an hour. Every set of eyes and person helps. It could be your sister, your mum, she’s got kids. We’re not going to stop until we find something of significance to bring Charlene home.” said Cherie.
The last confirmed sighting of her is a photograph taken on a mobile phone at a property in Adamsdown, at 06:07am on July 24 2024. In the image, her hair was in a bun, and she was wearing a dark strapless top. Charlene also has a distinctive dragon tattoo on her back.
South Wales Police said that over 1,000 hours of CCTV is being reviewed in connection to the case, and that officers are continuing to search premises, vehicles, open land and waterways across South Wales.
So far, inquiries have been made at more than 250 addresses and statements have been taken from more than 50 people.
Police have also appealed to people in Splott and Roath to help the search by checking their outbuildings and empty properties.
Detective Chief Inspector Matt Powell said: “We remain determined to find Charlene, with specialist teams of officers and staff dedicated to this investigation who are focused on finding Charlene and returning her to her family.
“Charlene is a mother, a sister, a daughter, and a friend to many. Like us, they are all extremely concerned for her welfare and are desperate for answers. I still firmly believe that answers lie in the community, and that someone will have key information that will help us find Charlene – any information, no matter how insignificant someone may feel it is, may help us find Charlene.”
- You can contact South Wales Police quoting the reference number 2400353044.
- Information and video footage such as from mobile phones, CCTV cameras, doorbells or dash-cams can be submitted via this link: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/62SWP24B95-PO1
