Fugitive NZ dad father Tom Phillips is spotted at a Bunnings – as crime expert reveals how he has been able to dodge authorities for three years

The mother of three children who have been missing with their fugitive father for almost three years revealed she saw them in a Bunnings last year when a criminal psychologist raised concerns about the “abnormal” lives they lead while on the run. country life.

Cat, mother of three – Jayda, 11, Maverick, 9, and Ember, 8 – who was spotted with their dad Tom Phillips on October 3, recalled seeing her former partner as she passed by a car park on the Hamilton Bunnings car park. last August.

Phillips and the children disappeared for the first time in 2021, launching a costly search campaign before being caught only to go on the run again two weeks later.

In an interview on Wednesday, she claimed she saw Phillips, who was wearing a disguise, in the Te Rapa store.

Cat recognized the father after he stopped in front of a suspicious-looking ute and recognized Phillips through his disguise.

“It was just the way he held his head up, because I just had a feeling about that ute,” she said Mata reports.

Phillip drove away shortly afterwards, Cat thinks because he recognized her, so the mother gave chase.

She managed to take pictures in front of the car when they were stopped at a red light, but did not get out of her car for fear it was not Phillip.

Tom Phillips (pictured) is on the run through New Zealand after an arrest warrant was issued for his arrest over an alleged bank robbery last year

Cat continued to follow the car, but lost sight of it after it stopped in front of a bus and turned onto a side street.

The mother claimed the ute belonged to a Phillips employee and was only reported stolen after she saw it.

Cat has long believed that Phillips is helped by a web of supporters in New Zealand.

“My babies deserve better, it won’t be long before they come home and supporting Thomas is essentially supporting child abuse because that’s what it is. There is no way around it. None of this is okay,” she said.

‘Those people have to stop. They need to think seriously about it and ask themselves why are these children earning less than any other child in New Zealand.”

The father’s decision to disappear into the wilderness came after a warrant was issued following an alleged bank robbery in September last year.

Criminal psychologist Dr Tim Watson-Munro said Phillips certainly showed the skills and understanding to live off the land with three young children.

Dr. However, Watson-Munro said the psychological effect of separating children from their friends and family in adolescence could be detrimental to their development.

“I would be professionally concerned about their psychological well-being as a result of all this,” he told Daily Mail Australia.

“I mean, it’s an abnormal kind of life for young children to lead.”

CCTV footage from last year allegedly showed Phillips and one of the children moments before they robbed a bank and a clothing store.

The duo were wearing clothing that covered their entire body, including face masks, at the time of the alleged incidents before leaving in stolen vehicles.

Catherine recognized the father after stopping in front of a suspicious-looking ute (pictured) and recognized Phillips through his disguise

He and his three children were spotted by teenage pig hunters last week, sparking fears for their physical and mental well-being after years of being separated from society

Dr. Watson-Munro said the children could be further deterred from leaving their father and seeking help if they are involved in the alleged crimes, leaving them even more isolated.

“I have been involved in cases over the years where children were part of alleged cults,” he said.

“The families decide to isolate them from mainstream society, they decide to educate them at home, and so on.

“But at least in those situations they have the benefit of interacting with other children, other adolescents, other young children.

“Here you have a situation where you have three siblings alone with their father, there is no opportunity for that kind of socialization.”

However, he noted that children are now entering adolescence, an often tumultuous time for even stable households, let alone households in the wild.

“As they reach puberty and adolescence, not only do they go through a growth spurt, but the nature of the way they think, in terms of conceptual thinking, also develops and they become restless about what they are told to do,” says Dr. Munro. said.

“Adolescence can be a time of significant rebellion for children.”

Phillips and the three children were filmed by a pair of teenage pig hunters on October 3 on a remote coastal farm near Marokopa.

The father and his children had disappeared from Marokopa in December 2021 and although hundreds of sightings of Phillip have been reported to police, the images taken by the teenagers are the most credible.

All four members of the group wore camouflage and carried large backpacks.

Phillips is said to have robbed a designer clothing store and a bank late last year and was seen on CCTV wearing face masks and clothing to protect his identity (pictured)

He was seen with what appears to be one of his children after allegedly robbing the bank and taking off on a stolen motorcycle (pictured)

Phillips walked about 30 feet ahead of his children, who trudged behind him in a single file.

The investigation is ongoing, with New Zealand Police Detective Andrew Saunders confirming the sighting was being treated as ‘credible’.

“While nothing further of significance has been found, investigators will now review the information gathered to determine any next steps,” he said.

‘This is the first time all three children have been sighted, which is positive information, and we know it will be reassuring to the children’s wider family.’

In June this year, an $80,000 reward was offered for information that could help locate the three children. However, this reward expired after eight weeks without results, despite more than forty observations considered important by officers.

Inspector Saunders said police believe he had help while on the run.

“Immunity from prosecution will be considered for anyone who has committed a criminal offense by assisting Tom Phillips, if he provides information or evidence leading to the location and safe return of the children,” he said in June.

The children’s mother, Catherine, previously accused Mr Phillips of endangering and robbing the children.

“Ember, like me, is asthmatic and she needs medical care that cannot be provided from within the country,” she said.

‘Many of you say the children are doing well and being well cared for.

‘How do you know that? Have you seen them? Or is it just bush talk?

‘What Thomas is doing is not okay. It is not okay to divide and conquer, to isolate and control.

“It’s child neglect, it’s child neglect, it’s child abuse. My babies deserve better.”