By Victoria Brenan

Last updated at 12:51, Thursday, 10 January 2013

The search for a teenage mum and her son missing from Penrith has gone global.

Catalina Covaci and Ricardo

Police hunting for Catalina Covaci and her baby son Ricardo have turned to international colleagues for help.

Catalina, who is originally from Romania but lived in Penrith for the last year and a half, went missing before Christmas and has not been seen since December 19.

Police officers have contacted Interpol and a search has now begun internationally with inquiries in France, where some of Catalina’s relatives live.

Detective Inspector Furzana Nazir is leading the search and said they were stepping up their efforts to trace the two.

“We believe that someone is helping them,” she said. “Catalina is vulnerable – she is 15, has a baby son with her and took very little money with her when she left home last month.

“Police, along with her guardians, are growing increasingly worried for their welfare and we have been appealing to anyone who may know of their whereabouts to get in touch.

Catalina took her son with her on a routine walk into Penrith town centre and was last seen at the train station. Police established she took a train to Manchester which arrived at 2.40pm but has not been seen since.

“This will have been Ricardo’s first Christmas and Catalina may well have wanted to travel to visit family, friends or acquaintances,” DI Nazir added. “However time is going on and we need to know that they are safe. They haven’t been seen for three weeks now.”

She said they had given photos of Catalina to Interpol to share with border agencies.

“Catalina has strong links to the travelling and Romanian communities all over the country and are continuing to appeal to her, and to anyone who believes they have seen her or Ricardo, to get in touch,” she said.

Police officers launched #helpfindcatalina on Twitter just after Christmas in a bid to reach a wider audience. She is described as having very long straight hair, often worn in a bun. She has a medium-heavy build and dark complexion.

Anyone who sees someone matching Catalina’s description is asked to call 101.

First published at 11:40, Thursday, 10 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk