An amber alert has been issued for an eight-year-old girl who was abducted from a Department of Child Safety facility in Maroochydore, Queensland, on December 19, 2024, at approximately 10:45 AM.

The abduction was carried out by a man in his 40s, who forcibly took the girl and placed her in a dark blue Toyota HiLux with a silver tray before driving away.

Witnesses reported seeing the girl being placed into the vehicle, which has the Queensland registration number 156VBO.

Authorities believe the suspect and the girl may still be within the Sunshine Coast area, including the possibility of heading towards Noosa.

Police have utilized Polair in their search efforts and are actively investigating the situation.

Detective Inspector Scott Wiggins stated that the child is currently in the care of the Department of Child Safety and may be at significant risk of harm.

The suspect is known to the girl and is described as a Caucasian male in his 40s with shaved or close-cropped hair, a slim build, wearing a dark shirt, black slides, and board shorts.

The girl is described as having sandy blonde hair and was last seen wearing black-and-white checkered shorts, a navy-blue shirt, and white sandals.

Authorities have advised the public not to approach the pair but to report any sightings or information to the police, emphasizing the importance of community assistance.

Anyone with information is urged to contact 131 564 or triple-0 if they have life-threatening information.