Hamilton Police Service officers are holding out hope that someone in the community has seen the vehicle belonging to a missing 28-year-old Hamilton man.

Paul Michael Foster, a Burlington native, had recently moved into a downtown Hamilton apartment with his beloved black Labrador, Fozzie, when he was last seen by his parents, Graham and Margaret Foster of Burlington, on January 10 at approximately 4 p.m.

Two hours later, at around 6 p.m., a neighbour heard Foster’s truck leave the apartment but didn’t see who was driving. The next day, the same neighbour – concerned because Fozzie had been barking regularly –  called the family in Burlington.

The family says it’s out of character for Foster to leave Fozzie alone in his downtown apartment and not check in with his parents.

Employed at Taylor’s Plumbing, Foster has been working at the Waterdown business for a couple of years, noted Sheila Taylor.

Concerned for Foster’s wellbeing, staff at Taylor’s Plumbing have displayed missing person posters to help raise awareness of his disappearance.  

Foster’s 1999 black Chevrolet S10 pickup is also missing.

Hamilton detectives  hope residents in the area will spot the vehicle, which has distinct features, including dark tinted windows, an empty rear box with no liner and a black air freshener with a white skull hanging from the rear-view mirror.

Foster’s pickup truck is also missing its front bumper and front licence plate.

The rear plate number is 343 1RJ.

“The vehicle is the big thing,” said HPS Constable Chris Elliott. “If anyone spots that vehicle, we want them to call right away.”

Police are also instructing the public not to touch the vehicle if it is unoccupied and parked, as officers wish to comb through the pickup in hopes of collecting any clues.

“Any piece of information that is found by us or that is passed on to us, we are reacting to it and fully investigating it,” said Elliott.

Anyone who has seen Paul Michael Foster or his vehicle is urged to contact police at 905-546-3817 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).