Adrian Romeo disappearance: Police breakthrough in hunt for Melbourne tradie who vanished
Police have made an arrest during an extensive search of a building in search of a missing craftsman who mysteriously disappeared without a trace.
Adrian Romeo, 43, was last seen at his home on Dempster Drive in Craigieburn, Melbourne’s north, at around 5.30pm on February 10.
Police suspect the builder is the victim of a crime and officers searched a building on Tuesday in search of a possible breakthrough. Nine news reported.
The rural property in Wildwood, northwest of Melbourne, is 21km from where Mr Romeo was last seen.
More than 100 police officers and SES members were seen with cadaver dogs and motocross bikes as they searched the 400-hectare estate on Tuesday.
A 34-year-old man living in a bus on the property was arrested after detectives reportedly found weapons, drugs, ammunition and stolen vehicles.
Victoria Police confirmed to Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday morning that the man has now been charged with prohibited possession of a firearm, possession of cartridge ammunition, possession of imitation firearms, dealing in stolen goods and possession of drug addiction.
The charges are not related to the disappearance or presumed death of Mr. Romeo.
Adrian Romeo, 43, (pictured) was last seen at his home on February 10
More than 100 police officers and SES members searched the site (pictured) using motocross bikes, garden tools and sniffer dogs
The 34-year-old will spend the night in custody and appear in Broadmeadows District Court on Wednesday.
The police suspect that the man was not known to Mr. Romeo.
At least four vehicles are said to have been seized from the site for forensic examination, which could provide a link to Mr Romeo’s disappearance.
Detectives reportedly scoured Wildwood Road for weeks after the 43-year-old’s disappearance for CCTV footage of Romeo’s car.
Police on Sunday issued a public appeal for more information about Mr Romeo’s whereabouts.
His cousin Charlie described the 43-year-old as a “hard worker” and someone who was “loved by a lot of people”.
“We don’t know how this could have happened,” he said.
On February 10, Mr. Romeo told his parents that he was going to nearby Greenvale to visit some friends.
It is believed that Mr Romeo left in his gold Camry for a speech in the neighbouring neighbourhood, where he spoke to a number of colleagues.
A man living in a bus on the property was arrested (photo shows police searching the large farmhouse)
The police believe that a crime has been committed, as it was not in Mr Romeo’s character not to contact his immediate family and friends.
The 43-year-old has not been heard from since and his bank accounts remain untouched, leading investigators to suspect his disappearance is suspicious.
Mr. Romeo’s phone has been out of service since his disappearance, raising concerns that he is dead.
“Adrian has a lot of friends, there is nothing in Adrian’s past that links him to organised crime, there is nothing that would explain why he would be missing,” Detective Constable Dean Thomas of Victoria’s homicide squad said on Sunday.
‘Adrian’s disappearance is incredibly worrying for the police, but also for his friends and family,’
“We are very confident that Adrian’s disappearance is suspicious and I suspect he is deceased.”
Before his disappearance, Mr. Romeo had a close bond with his friends and family.
It is considered unusual for him not to contact anyone.