Police are excavating a backyard in West Perth as part of their cold case investigation into the disappearance and suspected murder of Lisa Brown two decades ago.
The 19-year-old mother of two was last seen in the inner-city suburb of Highgate in the early hours of November 10, 1998.
Forensic officers have been digging up the rear of the property on Carr Street in West Perth this morning, removing concrete pavers and rubble and filling up a large skip bin.
Detective Inspector Lesa Brittain said police were looking for "items of interest" as a result of recent information, but would not elaborate further.
She said the previous occupants of the property were associates of Ms Brown and the house had been searched previously after she went missing.
"This premises was subject to a search some time ago during the initial investigation," Detective Inspector Brittain said.
"We were searching inside at that point and now our search has taken us to the rear of the premises."
The current residents of the house have nothing to do with the investigation.
Family aware of search, police say
Detective Inspector Brittain said Ms Brown's family was being kept informed of developments.
"I think this is evidence of the fact that we don't give up. We will continue to search for answers for Lisa Brown's family and her friends," she said.
Police launched a cold case review in 2017, offering a reward of up to $250,000 for information leading to the arrest of anyone involved with Lisa Brown's disappearance and suspected murder.
Ms Brown and her boyfriend were captured by CCTV cameras at a service station in Highgate about two hours before her disappearance.
Police said she was working as a sex worker at the time, and that her boyfriend told police he parted company with her around 12.30am on November 10.
He said he saw her walking down Brisbane Street and turning into Palmerston Street.
But that was the last time she was seen alive and investigators believe she was murdered.
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