Cowichan Search & Rescue have been deployed to search the area around Genoa Bay and Maple Bay following reports of an unconfirmed sighting of Gladys Barman.
The 82-year-old Oak Bay woman was last seen fuelling her dark green Honda Civic at the Petro-Canada on West Saanich Road at 10 a.m. on July 5.
Oak Bay police received a tip that said Barman may have been seen in her vehicle on Stoney Hill Road at about 1:15 p.m. that same day.
MISSING PERSON: Gladys Barman, 82 yrs old. Last seen at Petro Can on West Saannich Rd, y'day at 10am, driving 2002 Honda Accord (similar to one in pic). BC Licence 940 RGA. Wearing glasses, teal windbreaker, jeans & white sneakers. pic.twitter.com/lY97oXPqQg
— Oak Bay Police (@OakBayPolice) July 6, 2018
Search & Rescue are deploying to search area around Genoa Bay & Maple Bay. Info rec'd is that Ms. Barman may have been seen in her vehicle on Stoney Hill Rd about 13:15 hrs, July 5th w/ limited gas in car & seeking gas station. Despite inability to confirm SAR conducting search.
— Oak Bay Police (@OakBayPolice) July 11, 2018
“The individual providing the information believes [Barman] had limited gas in her car at that time and she asked where the nearest gas station was. She has not used her credit card since 10 a.m. that morning,” said Ray Bernoties, Oak Bay Police deputy chief.
“Despite our inability to confirm that this was Ms. Barman, the information received today is such that we, the RCMP, and Cowichan Search & Rescue are following up on it to the best of our ability.”
Police stressed that the sighting is unconfirmed, and asked the public to stay on the lookout.
A Facebook page has been created to aid in search efforts, and Barman’s son Neil has been posting updates on Twitter.
URGENT REQUEST to search area around 7908 Stoney Hill Rd, near Maple Bay, BC. More details at https://t.co/WlbmQYHvJ5
— Neil Barman (@nlbrmn) July 11, 2018