A human trafficking survivor who was found walking the streets of Dunblane could have been held by captors in rural Perthshire, Police Scotland believe.
The Vietnamese woman is thought to have escaped from the property where she was held and walked south alone along the A9.
Officers said the 21-year-old was reported to them after she was seen asking passers-by for help in Dunblane’s Cockburn Avenue.
A force spokesman said it was established that the woman was the victim of human trafficking and had somehow managed to flee from where she was being housed.
She made her way to Dunblane, where she was seen just before 11pm on Monday, September 13.
It is believed she escaped from a location to the north of the town, possibly in the rural Tayside area.
Police Scotland hope motorists travelling along the A9 on Thursday, September 13, could be key to the inquiry.
Detective Chief Inspector Nigel Thacker, of Forth Valley’s Public Protection Unit said: “At the moment, we are continuing to liaise with the young woman as to her ordeal, and try to establish a more definitive location as to where she has fled from.
“As such, we are focusing our attention on the A9 area and would be eager to hear from anyone who remembers seeing a lone female walking in a distressed state in the hours before 10.55pm on September 13.”
He said: “Similarly, anyone with other relevant information should also contact police immediately.
“At this time, there is nothing to suggest Dunblane itself is central to this inquiry, nor have we identified any other victims from region.
“However it is essential we identify those responsible to establish if any other individuals require our assistance. As such, if you know anything, then please get in touch.”
Anyone with information is urged to call Stirling CID on the non-emergency hotline 101, quoting incident number 4340. Alternatively, an anonymous report can be made to charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
