Hamm police are desperately searching for a missing 16-year-old!

Hamm police are desperately searching for a missing 16-year-old!

A 16-year-old from Hamm has been missing since Saturday, July 5, and the situation has caused excitement among the local population. The Hamm police department has published photos of the young people and would like to ask people for help in clarifying the whereabouts of the missing person. Unfortunately, previous searches have been unsuccessful, so fears for the young woman's well-being are growing. What is particularly worrying is that the young person is mentally impaired and did not return home.

The missing person is at least 1.70 meters tall, has a strong build, long dark hair and wears glasses. There are initial indications that she may be traveling by train, which increases the urgency of the search. The Hamm police are asking the public for active help: Information on the whereabouts of the 16-year-old can be given by calling 02381/916-0. For further information and photos of the missing persons, anyone interested is invited to visit the NRW wanted portal, where the relevant data is provided.

Missing persons cases in Germany

Missing person cases are a serious issue in German police work. According to the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), a person is considered missing if they are inexplicably absent from their location and a threat to life or limb is assumed. Especially for minors, like the missing teenager from Hamm, it should be noted that they will be taken into state care if they leave their circle of life. Local police are usually the first port of call in the search for missing people, and in cases of acute danger, large-scale operations can be launched, sometimes involving the support of riot police and emergency services.

A remarkable statistic shows that around 9,420 missing person cases were registered in Germany on January 1, 2025. Around 200 to 300 new cases are recorded every day, with half of these cases clearing up within the first week. However, the tragic aspect remains that around 3% of missing people have been missing for more than a year, and this often also affects children and young people. For example, in 2024, around 18,100 children were missing, with 96.7% of cases solved by the end of the year. Federal Criminal Police Office reports that unaccompanied refugee children represent a special issue that requires particular attention.

The current situation underlines the importance of solid cooperation between the population and the investigative authorities. Any information can help solve the case and ultimately save a young person's life. The police and all other institutions urge you to provide information about the missing young people and thus contribute to the search. Every little clue can help bring the person you're looking for home safely.

For more about the case and the ongoing investigations associated with the missing persons manhunt, interested citizens can read the article calf read it or contact the police directly.