NT Police believe missing five-year-old girl Sharon Granites abducted from home near Alice SpringsA young girl in a blue T-shirt sits in a chair holding her arms out front.

Police say five-year-old Sharon Granites went missing from her home in the Old Timers town camp in Alice Springs at the weekend. (Supplied: NT Police Force )

Northern Territory Police say they are now treating the disappearance of a five-year-old girl in Alice Springs as an abduction, while searching for a 47-year-old man who they believe can assist with their inquiries.

Police say the girl, Sharon Granites, was reported missing by her family about 1:30am on Sunday, after she could not be found at her home on Marshall Court in the Old Timers Aboriginal town camp.

They say she was last seen by family when she was put to bed just before 11:30pm on Saturday.

In an update to the media on Monday, Acting Commander Mark Grieve said police believed the five-year-old had been abducted from her home.

Acting Commander Grieve said the man they were looking for, Jefferson Lewis, had recently been released from prison and was believed to have been staying at the house the girl went missing from early on Sunday morning.

“He currently remains one of the few people who were in Old Timers Camp at the time and who has not made themselves known to police, nor have police been able to locate him,” he said.

“We do believe Sharon has been abducted.”

Acting Commander Grieve said Mr Lewis had not been in prison for child-related offending and was not believed to be closely related to Sharon or her family.

“He’s the only person that we haven’t been able to locate and speak to who was in and around that area at the time,” 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.”

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A police officer in uniform holds his hands in front of his body during a press conference.

Northern Territory Police believe a missing five-year-old girl in Alice Springs was abducted from her home and are seeking the public’s assistance.

Acting Commander Grieve said police were “wrapping around” Sharon’s mother and providing her with support.

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

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

Acting Commander Grieve repeated calls for public assistance to find the five-year-old.

Young girl in pink dress does peace sign with fingers

Five-year-old Sharon was reported missing from the Old Timers town camp in Alice Springs on Sunday morning. (Supplied: NT Police Force)

“Please, if you’ve got any information, regardless of how small in detail you think it may be, please let us know,” he said.

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

“We want to find Sharon healthy and we want to get her back to her family.”

Earlier this morning, police said officers had resumed foot searches after they were unable to locate the five-year-old overnight.

Police walk away from the camera as they search grassland

Police resumed an on-foot line search for the five-year-old on Monday morning, near the Old Timers town camp. (ABC News: Will Green)

Members of the force’s elite Territory Response Group were also expected to travel from Darwin to join the search this morning.

Investigators are urging anyone with information about Sharon’s disappearance to call 131 444 and quote reference number P26120934.