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Search for Shin Noh expands into Vancouver, Surrey

Volunteers needed to help search for Coquitlam grandfather who went missing Sept. 18
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An artist has added facial hair to a photo of missing Coquitlam grandfather Shin Noh to show how he might look now that he's been missing for 42 days.

The search for Shin Noh continues to expand and more volunteers are needed to "bring dad home" says his son Sam Noh.

On Sunday, Noh and 60 volunteers fanned out into Vancouver after reports of sightings of the 64-year-old Korean grandfather. The group talked to people on the Downtown Eastside, put up signs in Thornton Park in front of the former CN terminal on Main Street, and handed out cards with information about Shin Noh throughout the city.

"A lot of the tips are coming from the downtown and Commercial area, we felt it was important to act quickly," said Sam Noh, who owns a business in Port Moody and whose father went missing from his Coquitlam home on Sept. 18.

Noh said he hasn't given up hope that his dad will be found, especially since tips keep coming in.

"I think it would be a different story without any of these sightings," Noh said.

Sam Noh searches for Shin Noh

Because fewer are coming from the Tri-Cities and New Westminster areas and most now seem to be coming from Vancouver, the searchers are putting more effort into raising awareness in the downtown core, as well as Surrey, in case the elderly man hops on Skytrain and heads east.

In Vancouver "There's a lot of places to eat and get clothing, if he's there, it's not the best place but there's places to get resources," said Noh.

The latest unverified tip came Tuesday, with someone reporting they saw a man matching Noh's description at the McDonalds at Broadway and Commercial.

"The woman didn't know that dad was missing at the time, it was a couple of hours after she saw posters (she called in the tip)," Sam said, adding that tips come in often too late to do anything about them so efforts have been ramped up to raise awareness in Vancouver.

The Vancouver Police Department is also aware that Shin Noh, who has Alzheimer's, is missing and a Facebook group and website have been set up so people can join a search group in an area near them.

A lot of emphasis is being placed on Skytrain, where Noh might be traveling and McDonalds, because his dad is familiar with the McDonalds arch symbol and might take advantage of free coffee being offered this week.

dstrandberg@tricitynews.com