A MAN who went missing with a pistol was questioned by police about a theft the night before he vanished.

Police revealed that officers visited the home of Nicholas Crocker in connection with a ‘minor theft’ last Tuesday.

More details surrounding Mr Crocker’s disappearance emerged at a press conference at Weymouth police headquarters yesterday afternoon, during which the family of Mr Crocker made another tearful public plea for his return.

Superintendent Mick Rogers said the night before Mr Crocker vanished early on Wednesday September 21, officers visited his home in connection to a 'minor theft incident' in Weymouth.

He said: “It was a follow up to a particular enquiry we had as a result of a minor incident of theft that occurred on September 16 in Weymouth.

“We have some concerns which we share with the family, that Mr Crocker may well have reacted to that particular enquiry by those police officers.

“It was absolutely correct those police officers made their enquiries on Tuesday night.

“We believe Mr Crocker’s been concerned about that enquiry and as a result he’s gone missing.”

He added: “If anyone knows where he is please put this in context, everyone wants to see him back safe and well in the quickest time possible.

“That enquiry does need to be look at but it can be looked at in a proportionate manner.”

Supt Rogers said they were particularly concerned for Mr Crocker's safety as the licensed firearms holder is believed to have a .38 pistol with him.

He emphasised that Mr Crocker was not a risk to members of the public and had no history of mental health but said police were just ‘extremely concerned’ for his own well-being.

Supt Rogers described 55-year-old Mr Crocker as a ‘very professional huntsman’ who was ‘very comfortable in a rural environment and that was why ‘extensive searches’ had been carried out around the large area around Hardy’s monument on Thursday and Friday.

He added that calls from members of the public had resulted in more specific searches in the Chickerell area and parts of Weymouth, all of which had been carried out with ‘immense help’ of Dorset Search and Rescue volunteers.

Mr Crocker’s step-daughter Kate Wills and sister Jenny Crocker said Mr Crocker’s disappearance was 'very out of character.’ They said he was a ‘proud man’ and a homebird’ and Kate, of Dorchester Road, Weymouth tearfully begged her step-dad to come home.

The 37-year-old said: "Everything can be sorted, this is a minor thing, everything can go back to normal.

"Come home for mum's sake more than anything."

Jenny, of Abbotsbury, added: “Come back, come home, just come home we’re all really worried about you.”

Both Dorset Police and Mr Crocker’s family have renewed their appeal for public help to find him.

Anyone with information is asked to call Dorset Police on 101.