Fugitive Dad’s 4-Year Hide-And-Seek Ends With Police Pop Quiz
Tom Phillips, who spent an unforgettable four-year family vacation evading everyone in Piopio, New Zealand, has been shot by police after a daring burglary attempt. Local VIP John Robertson, mayor of Waitomo, describes the tragic finale as 'the worst possible outcome,' echoing the sorrow of a small town that’s been holding its breath since 2021. Despite the shock, Mayor Robertson keeps a shrine of the missing kid's photos and 'stuff,' pondering what might’ve happened if dad hadn’t gone AWOL on this infamous kidnapping road trip. Meanwhile, police are urgently—because urgency is key here—still on the hunt for two missing Phillips kids. So much for a clean break.
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Four years on the run with kids, then a burglary attempt? That’s one way to turn 'family time' into a public safety announcement. Piopio probably just wanted a quiet morning, not a literal action movie sequel.
When Dad’s escape plan includes burglary and desperate police chases, you know family barbecue invites got way more complicated.
Fugitive dad goes from hide-and-seek champ to headline shootout star — four years of commitment to poor decision-making really pays off.
Source: Theguardian | Published: 9/8/2025 | Author: Adam Fulton
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