Police believe a five-year-old child missing in the Northern Territory since Saturday night was abducted.

Authorities were contacted about 1.35am on Sunday after five-year-old Sharon could not be located at her home in Alice Springs.

She was last seen by her parents when she was tucked into bed by them about 11pm on Anzac Day at the family residence at Old Timers Town Camp.

Acting Commander Mark Grieve said NT Police are seeking information from a 47-year-old man, Jefferson Lewis, who they believe can provide information which may lead to finding the child.

“We believe Sharon has been abducted,” he said.

Acting Commander Grieve said Mr Lewis, who is not believed to be directly related to Sharon, was one of the few people in the area at the time the child went missing who has not made themselves known to police and attempts to contact him have so far been unsuccessful.

“He is believed to have been in the area around that time and staying at the residence,” he said.

“Considering himself and Sharon went missing at around about the same time, it certainly brings about those suspicious circumstances and we’d like to speak to him about that.

“If he is involved, we certainly hope that no harm has come to Sharon.”

Now more than 30 hours into the search, NT Police are seeking information from the public.

“Obviously it’s a terrible situation to have such a young child go missing,” Acting Commander Grieve said.

“We’re over 24 hours now, so it’d certainly be my worst nightmare as a parent.”

NT Police said Mr Lewis was recently released from prison with “no conditions” and they were “doing everything in (their) power” to locate Sharon.

It remains unknown whether the 47-year-old has access to a vehicle.

Two investigations are currently underway: a criminal, and search and rescue operation.

Initial searches of the area by police have been unable to locate Sharon.

She was last seen wearing a dark blue, short-sleeve t-shirt, with white stripes around the neck and sleeves; and black, boxer-style underwear.

Detective Michael Ordelman said, according to NT News, that the police held concerns for Sharon’s welfare.

“It’s a very broad investigation at this stage where we’re not ruling out anything, but police obviously have concerns because of the time it’s taken, the age of young Sharon,” he said.

“Anyone in the community that knows anything – however insignificant they think it is – contact police so, so we can find her, locate her, return her to her family.”

Thermal imaging, police dogs, horses, motorbikes, ATVs, and helicopters have been deployed in searches for the child, and CCTV footage has been reviewed.

More dogs are expected to arrive on Monday morning to help with the search.

Nearby the family home is the Todd River and Stuart Highway.

Detective Ordelman said the doors “were wide open and the fly screen wasn’t locked” at the house.

“It is probable that she’s walked out of the residence and then wandered off,” he said.

“We don’t know if she has access to water... there’s some areas she may have gone to find water, but the increasing passage of time is concerning.

“Please, please help the parents, help police find little Sharon.”

Acting Commander Grieve urged anyone with any information, “regardless of how small in detail”, to contact police on 131 444 and quote the reference number P26120934.

“You just don’t know what piece of information might complete the jigsaw puzzle,” he said.