Detectives are hopeful a five-year-old girl suspected of being snatched from her home in Alice Springs is still alive, as the desperate search enters its third day.

Police and volunteers are continuing to scour through shoulder-high grass in the search for Sharon, 5, which has entered its third day, after she was last seen at her home in Marshall Court, Old Timers Camp in Alice Springs about 11.30pm on Saturday.

Police believe she may have been abducted from her home by Jefferson Lewis, who was seen “holding hands” with her on Saturday night.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley said despite the girl being missing for more than 48 hours, they believe the young girl is still alive.

“At this stage our number one mission is to find her safe and well,” he told reporters.

“But as you know, as time goes on, the chances of … finding her live and well reduced.”

Sharon has been missing since Saturday night. Picture: NT Police

Commissioner Malley said there was a “bit of a party” happening at the time of Sharon’s disappearance, with her mother “doing some washing” in the area.

“Sharon’s mum was over there to do some washing and she knew people there. So she was quite welcome in that area,” he said.

Police believe Jefferson Lewis – who they said was at the house at the time – may have abducted the five-year-old.

Commissioner Malley said Mr Lewis had a “loose connection to the family” and was released from prison six days earlier.

“They just happened to be present together at that location on Saturday night,” he said.

Sharon was reportedly seen holding hands with the 47-year-old on Saturday night.

Missing girl and 47yo man seen ‘holding hands’: cops

Commissioner Malley said the five-year-old was last seen about 11pm walking out of the house and “holding hands” with Mr Lewis.

A crime scene has been established near the camp where the little girl went missing, with part of the area cordoned off with police tape.

“We believe Jefferson Lewis has led the little girl away to that crime scene that we have taped off,” he said.

Commissioner Malley said police were yet to determine a motive behind the alleged abduction.

However, he said there may be a chance Mr Lewis was intoxicated at the time.

“There was alcohol being consumed at the camp at the time, and so he probably was under the influence of alcohol,” he said.

Sharon was wearing a dark blue short-sleeved T-shirt with a white ring stripe around the neck and the end of the sleeves and a pair of black boxer-style underwear.

No confirmed sightings of Sharon

Commissioner Malley said while there had been no confirmed sightings of Sharon, some members of the public claimed to see Mr Lewis.

“We’ve had a couple of possible sightings of Jefferson but we’re unable to confirm it was him at this stage,” he said.

Commissioner Malley also said there was a possibility Mr Lewis was being driven around the area.

“We don’t believe he has access to a vehicle,” he said.

“That’s not to say that somebody is not driving him around.”

Police believe Mr Lewis led the little girl away. Picture: NT Police

Police reject claims search started too late

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Commissioner Malley rejected claims the search for Sharon began too late.

“The team has done everything within its power,” he said.

“It was up and running very, very early, resources here as part of the search are really significant.”

Aboriginal trackers have been deployed in the area to assist with the search, NT Police executive director of cultural reform Leanne Liddle said.

“We also have the assistance of the volunteers, we’ve also got the assistance of the land councils,” she said.

The search for the little girl has entered its third day, with police scouring Alice Springs with the assistance of emergency services and volunteers from the Tangentyere Council and Purple House.

An NT Police spokesman told NewsWire that about 60 people were taking part in the ground search on Tuesday.

The search includes helicopters, drones, the dog unit, horses, motorcycle and ATVs.

“Tangentyere Council has assisted greatly with organising volunteers,” the spokesman said.

About 46sq km has so far been searched by helicopter, while officers and volunteers have scoured about 20sq km on foot.

The search for the little girl has entered its third day. Picture: ABC

Sergeant Matt Hall said the search had been slow due to the challenging environment.

“It is a vast search area that we are looking at and going through methodically,” he told ABC Radio Darwin.

“The area’s heavily overgrown with buffel grass, so in some areas it’s shoulder-to-shoulder search pattern through that area.

“So, it’s slow going, but we will continue to push through.”

Police and volunteers have scoured dense bushland and shrubbery. Picture: ABC

Community overwhelmed by support

Ms Liddle said the community had been overwhelmed with support from police and search volunteers.

“The community support has been overwhelming and we’re grateful for that support,” she said.

“We have enough volunteers and we have enough specialist people on the ground now to assist us.”

She said Sharon’s family were “very distressed” by the little girl’s disappearance.

“We advised them we are doing all we can to find her,” she said.

On Tuesday, Anthony Albanese said the suspected abduction was “every parent’s worst fear”.

“This breaks the heart of everyone who hears about this story,” the Prime Minister told reporters.

“Every parent’s worst fear is your child going missing. If you don’t know where they are for five or 10 minutes, it can cause a great deal of anxiety for parents out there.

“And we just hope that this little girl is found.

“I think, on behalf of all Australians, we want to see a safe return.”

Police are searching for Jefferson Lewis, who they believe can assist with inquiries. Picture: NT Police

He was recently released from prison. Picture: NT Police

Mr Lewis was recently released from prison for violent offences, including assault and domestic violence.

Acting Commander Mark Grieve said Mr Lewis was believed to have disappeared at the same time as Sharon.

He said the 47-year-old “was in and around the house at that point in time, so I’m assuming there was some sort of recognition of who he may be”.

“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.”

Commander Grieve said police believe Sharon was snatched.

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

Police said the search for the little girl had rocked the community.

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

He urged anyone with information to come forward.

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

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