A 17-year-old boy who went missing after leaving his school in Zhejiang, China, was eventually found hiding under his own bed after police spent two days searching for him.
The teenager disappeared in the early hours of Sept 6 while studying at an automotive repair training centre in Deqing. His mother, identified by the surname Jiang, became increasingly worried after she was unable to contact him by phone.
She went to the Liangzhu police station for help at around 8am on Sept 8, prompting police from Deqing and Yuhang to launch a search.
Police reviewed surveillance footage and determined that the boy’s last known movements were in Liangzhu, near his family home.
Jiang told officers that her son was introverted and rarely went out on his own, making his sudden disappearance especially concerning for the family.
Officers immediately checked surveillance footage in the surrounding area while PTU officers Ye Chenglong and Chen Weili accompanied Jiang to conduct a physical search.
As the search continued, officers questioned Jiang about her son’s daily routine, interests and places he frequently visited. They also reassured her as she struggled with anxiety over his disappearance.
Based on the boy’s personality and the surveillance clues, officers believed he had probably not gone far and narrowed their search to the area surrounding the family’s home.
They then carried out a detailed search of the property and its surroundings.
After an extensive search, officers made an unexpected discovery — the missing teenager was hiding under the bed in his own bedroom.
The boy was found safe and in good health.
Jiang was reportedly relieved and grateful after her son was found unharmed, leaving a message through the police station’s feedback channel to thank the officers for their efforts.
