The desperate family of a missing mother yesterday (Wed) made an emotional plea to the public to help bring her home.
Mum of two, Karen Brown, vanished last Saturday after leaving her home without her handbag, purse and mobile phone.
Fears were growing for the 47-year-old after she failed to turn up to her work at an Asda supermarket in her hometown of Clydebank, West Dunbartonshire.
Neighbours of the couple on Kirkwood Avenue, Clydebank, said Mrs Brown had gone to work at 7am despite her shift not starting until 10am.
But Mrs Brown is believed to have been spotted in London after boarding a bus in Glasgow.
Her family positively identified CCTV footage of a woman fitting her description boarding a bus at 8.20am on Saturday.
She was later spotted by a witness at the famous Hamley’s store in the capital at 10.20am on Tuesday.
A Clydebank resident on holiday in the city recognised a woman she believed to be Mrs Brown from social media appeals and approached her.
She asked if she was Mrs Brown and she replied “yes”.
Police Scotland is now working with Metropolitan Police to confirm the potential sighting.
Mrs Brown’s husband Jock, 48, was joined by the couples two daughters, Jemma, 22 and Chloe 12, at a police press conference in Clydebank yesterday (Wed).
He made a heart-wrenching plea for his wife, who has just recently become a grandmother to Jemma’s 10 week-old daughter Millie, to come home.
He said: “We know you have had a lot on your mind recently and a lot on your plate and we want you to come home.
“We all miss and love you and you’re needed here. Karen, please come home we love you we miss you.”
Mrs Brown is 5ft 6in, of medium build, with brown hair and hazel eyes.
Police say she has never been missing before and her family says it is completely out of character for her.
Mr Brown said the family have been to London on holiday three or four times and said the couple celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary there.
He said: “It was the first trip we have ever done with no kids, so there is a sentimental value there.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she was there [in Hamleys] looking for something for Millie, maybe even Chloe.
“I suspect that’s been part of the thought process because it’s comfortable.”
When asked why he thought Karen might have gone there he said: “Karen is a bit of worrier.
“She’s been preoccupied, I can only speculate but I don’t really know – that’s a question I will one day maybe get answered by Karen.”
He said the pair, who have been married for 28 years, have not been apart for longer than eight hours — a typical working day — since he left the Royal Navy.
He said the family is feeling positive in light of a potential sighting, adding: “By comparison to the last couple of days, we have been trying to fight the negativity with absolutely no understanding of where she was and if she’s safe.
“So coming this morning to find photographs and confirmations she’s in London has been really positive.
“It’s been tough but today’s a lot better. But obviously, we have a long way to go until we actually get to see her and have her back home. But its a damn good start.”
Mr Brown only realised his wife was missing when he went to pick her up from work around 8pm that evening but was told by staff she had not turned up.
Describing the moment he knew something was wrong, he said: “It was awful it was just that fear and dread.
“Initially you just go to that dark place and its the dark hole you don’t want to go to.
“But having two daughters and a granddaughter I have had to stay strong and remain positive at all times.”
Speaking about her mum, daughter Jemma said she has been a great help with her new granddaughter.
Jemma said: “She has been really helpful – she sees Millie a lot and is always helping out – she’s been great.”
Inspector David Quinn said: “We have carried out extensive inquiries so far and to date, we have had no trace of her.
“However, as recently as yesterday (Tues) we have had a possible sighting in London where a witness from the Clydebank area has come forward to say she has spoken to Karen within Hamley toy store on Regent Street in London.
“Extensive police inquiries are being carried out to support this sighting and we now have a confirmed sighting of Karen getting on a mega bus to London at Buchannan Street bus station in Glasgow. ”
Any information on Karen’s whereabouts can be passed to officers at Clydebank Police Office via 101.
