Her stepfather David Niles, 29, said the family were "in bits" as the search entered its fourth day. Mr Niles, wearing a Find Tia campaign T-shirt, said: "I just want to find my little girl. How would you feel if it was your daughter?," he added. "We're in bits, the whole country has helped us and is supporting us. I haven't slept in four days. Natalie (Tia's mother) is in bits. The police have done everything."
The Sun newspaper has offered a £25,000 reward for information that will lead to police finding the 12-year-old.
It was believed the last person to see Tia was Mrs Sharp's partner, Stuart Hazell. But Mr Niles said he was unsure about that, adding: "The last time I saw her was on Thursday morning before going to work (at the family home in Mitcham). She had a friend stay over. She was good as gold. "I know I am not her real dad, but I have been there since day dot. I have fed her and bathed her. I just want her home. When she left the house she shouted 'Bye' and 'See you by six'. She always takes her phone but it was dead."
Mrs Sharp, speaking from her terraced home, said she hoped an image of her granddaughter taken outside the nearby Co-op on Thursday would jog people's memories and bring forward new information.
A Press Conference with Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola and David Sharp, 28, maternal uncle of Tia took place yesterday (Monday 6 August 2012) at New Scotland Yard. Also present were two close family friends, Mark Havers and Steven Sabine. David, Mark and Steven were all wearing white appeal tee shirts.
David Sharp appealed for Tia to return: "Tia please come home. You are not in trouble - please call us or call the police. I would like to thank the police and the public - everyone is doing everything they can. Please don't stop."
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Scola from Specialist Crime and Operations said: "We are releasing a CCTV image of Tia from Thursday 2 August - the day before she was last seen. The image is from the Co-op store in Featherbed Lane, Addington, at around 1615.
"We know Tia travelled there part way on a tram by herself, and then met her grandmother's partner at East Croydon station. The image shows her wearing a yellow vest top with an image of an animal on the front - possibly of a cat or dog, her tight faded jeans, and Ugg boots. We believe she was wearing the top and jeans when she went missing - but not the Ugg boots - we know she was wearing black nike trainers with a pink tick when she left her grandmother's address.
"We have had a good response to our appeals. We have had some 55 reported sightings of Tia, although none of these have been substantiated. Searches are continuing in the area around Tia's grandmother's address. CCTV is being collated and viewing continues.
"We know Tia was at her grandmother's house and slept late on the morning of Friday 3 August. She then left to get the bus. She told her grandmother's partner she was going out. He was the last person to see her, that we are aware of at this time.
"We have recovered a number of items but we now know that they do NOT belong to Tia. David Sharp added: "Tia is a normal 12 year old girl. She has never run away before. She is playful but is clued up when it comes to travelling and knowing her local area. "
Anyone who has seen Tia or knows of her whereabouts should call Merton Police on 101 (quoting reference 12MIS025216); or Missing People on 116 000.
"We know Tia travelled there part way on a tram by herself, and then met her grandmother's partner at East Croydon station. The image shows her wearing a yellow vest top with an image of an animal on the front - possibly of a cat or dog, her tight faded jeans, and Ugg boots. We believe she was wearing the top and jeans when she went missing - but not the Ugg boots - we know she was wearing black nike trainers with a pink tick when she left her grandmother's address.
"We have had a good response to our appeals. We have had some 55 reported sightings of Tia, although none of these have been substantiated. Searches are continuing in the area around Tia's grandmother's address. CCTV is being collated and viewing continues.
"We know Tia was at her grandmother's house and slept late on the morning of Friday 3 August. She then left to get the bus. She told her grandmother's partner she was going out. He was the last person to see her, that we are aware of at this time.
"We have recovered a number of items but we now know that they do NOT belong to Tia. David Sharp added: "Tia is a normal 12 year old girl. She has never run away before. She is playful but is clued up when it comes to travelling and knowing her local area. "
Anyone who has seen Tia or knows of her whereabouts should call Merton Police on 101 (quoting reference 12MIS025216); or Missing People on 116 000.
