Great concern for 86-year-old: Missing Barnstorfer urgently wanted!

Great concern for 86-year-old: Missing Barnstorfer urgently wanted!

An 86-year-old man from Barnstorf has been missing since Wednesday afternoon. He left home at around 3:30 p.m. on September 3 and went on one of his usual bike rides. He usually returns to his place of residence in the evening, but this time he was untraceable. The Diepholz police have therefore launched an urgent appeal for help to collect information from the population. How OM Online reports, the 86-year-old is partially disoriented and needs his bicycle to get around.

On Thursday, the search for the missing man was initially suspended late in the evening. The fire brigade, police and around 60 volunteers took part in the effort. A police helicopter supported the operation from the air, while private helpers searched the area on quad bikes. Despite these large-scale measures, which also include the use of human detection dogs, the search was unsuccessful. The Barnstorf municipality has therefore asked the population to help with the search, especially with bicycles in the surrounding area.

Features and Notes

The missing man is around 1.65 to 1.70 meters tall, has a slim build and was wearing dark blue jeans, a red sweater and a light-colored peaked cap at the time of his disappearance. His bike is silver and is not an e-bike. Police are continuing to accept tips on 05441/9710 as the search is set to continue on Friday. The uncertainty worries many residents, as the man regularly cycles in the area around Barnstorf, such as around Dümmer, Vechta, Wildeshausen and Twistringen.

Missing persons cases in Germany

The disappearance of people is a serious issue in Germany, as is this Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) highlights. A person is considered missing if he or she is inexplicably absent from his or her location and a risk to life or limb is assumed. In the case of missing adults, the authorities assume that they have chosen their whereabouts voluntarily, unless there is a dangerous situation. Inexperienced people, especially minors, are generally considered to be in a threatening situation.

As of the beginning of 2025, around 9,420 missing person cases were registered in the police information system (INPOL). Around 200 to 300 new cases are added every day, with around half being resolved within the first week. For people missing for more than a year, the proportion is around 3%. The 86-year-old man from Barnstorf joins these unfortunate statistics and illustrates the importance of cooperation between the authorities and the population.

The search continues and there is still great hope that the missing person will soon be found safe and sound.