A 45-year-old refugee's disappearance has police asking for the public's help.
Izumi Aoyama arrived in Canada from Japan in July and has been living in New Westmimster since then, according to a media release from police.
Aoyama was last seen in New Westminster on Oct. 22 but two days earlier she was at the New Westminster police station on Columbia Street to retrieve some belongings the department was temporarily storing for her, Staff Sgt. Diana McDaniel said in an email to The Record.
“We have confirmation that (Aoyama) was seen by (emergency health services) at Ridge Meadows Hospital on Oct. 22, 2014 at which time she was provided with a cab ride to Vancouver to the Inland Refugee Society where she was looking for assistance regarding accommodation. She ended up leaving without securing temporary accommodation,” McDaniel added.
Investigators are concerned for Aoyama’s safety as she is believed to be homeless and may be suffering from a mental illness. She also has no known ties to anyone in the community or social support, the release added.
"Of particular concern, Aoyama's belongings, including her two cats, were located scattered in an isolated area of the Colony Farm Regional Park in Port Coquitlam. It is unknown how or when this property was discarded," stated the release.
Aoyama is Japanese with straight, shoulder-length black hair, and she is missing her front teeth. She was last seen wearing glasses with dark frames, a green sweater, purple scarf, blue jeans and light-coloured shoes. Aoyama was carrying a large black leather purse with light brown trim and a light brown strap when she disappeared.
Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact New West police at 604-525-5411 or their local police.
