Caroline Wilga: Homicide detectives investigating disappearance of missing German backpacker in the Wheatbelt

Homicide detectives are now involved in the widespread search for a young German backpacker who vanished in the Wheatbelt.

Caroline Wilga was last seen at a convenience store on Stirling Terrace, near the intersection of Goomalling-Toodyay Road, in Toodyay, on June 28.

Police Commissioner Col Blanch said on Wednesday that the 26-year-old was also captured on CCTV the following day in Beacon.

“(Homicide detectives) went (to the Wheatbelt) yesterday or they’re going today,” he said.

“They are investigating, not that it’s a homicide at this point, but we want our very best capabilities to investigate something that is very concerning to us.”

A police spokesman said investigators were seeking footage around Beacon, about 330km north east of Perth, and the surrounding north-eastern Wheatbelt areas between June 29 and July 4 following her disappearance.

Police believe her phone has been switched off, with her last known contact with others made to friends.

Mr Blanch said none of her belongings had been recovered on Wednesday morning.

The police air wing has been searching bushland in the areas where she was last seen.

Ms Wilga’s family are understood to be travelling to WA after the young woman ceased contact with them.

Ms Wilga, a German national, is known to have been travelling in a distinctive black and silver 1995 Mitsubishi van, with the WA registration 1HDS 330.

The van has been previously sighted with a rooftop tent.

She is described as being of slim build, with frizzy or curly long dark blonde hair and brown eyes.

She also has several tattoos, including one her left arms depicting different symbols.

A police spokesman said the search remained ongoing, with police utilising “significant land and air resources” to help find her.

Dash-cam, CCTV or mobile phone footage can be sent to police directly here.

Anyone with any information in relation to the whereabouts of Carolina Wilga is urged to contact police immediately on 131 444.