How to find a missing person is a question that you hope you never need to think about. However, if the time does come, you want to be prepared.

If someone you love goes missing, there’s a lot that you can do to help find them.

This guide will help you know what to do.

What to do when someone is missing

Searching for a missing person can eat up a lot of your time and resources.

Luckily, there are a lot of tools you can use to make your search easier. Here are five things you should do immediately if you’re trying to find a loved one.

1. Contact the Police

It doesn’t matter how old the missing person is- call the police.

If your child disappears, don’t hesitate for an instant. Call the authorities the second that you notice something is wrong.

Adults are trickier. The police are limited if they suspect the person may have left voluntarily. You should still file a missing person report, however.

2. Contact Loved Ones

Look into every possibility, no matter how remote. Scour your brain and list all of the people that your loved one might contact if they were in distress.

It may seem like a waste of time, but it’s important to rule out every possibility. A simple disagreement can spiral out of control and lead to someone taking temporary refuge with a friend.

Sometimes someone goes “missing” when they’re emotionally distraught only to be found hours later once they calm down.

3. Call NamUs

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) is run by the U.S. government. Enter your loved one’s information into the database and organizations across the country will be able to access the information.

This a great resource for spreading the word. It’s possible that your loved one’s disappearance is connected to another case.

4. Use Social Media

Social media can be very useful.

Your loved one may have left a clue about their whereabouts on one of their social media pages. Pay attention to when they last posted an update. Look at what other people are posting on their page.

If you spot anything weird, dig into it. It might lead somewhere.

5. Call Local Hospitals and Jails

Even the most unlikely person can get into trouble sometimes. Part of your search should include phone calls to the jails in your area.

You should also call nearby hospitals. If your loved one was badly injured, they may not be in a position to contact you.

Hire a Private Investigator

Knowing how to find a missing person isn’t easy.

Sometimes, nothing that you do on your own works. If you’ve tried everything to find to your missing loved one and still don’t have any answers, it’s time to hire a private investigator.

We’re the most trusted P.I. firm in China. We can help you when the police don’t have any answers.