Police have begun a search at the home of a man who was reported missing three years ago, nine months after he was last seen alive.

Albert Visser was last seen in January 2021 in Heerhugowaard, Noord-Holland, but it was not until October that a friend notified the police.

Police did not immediately suspect wrongdoing because the 67-year-old was known to have financial problems. A spokesman said: “He could have moved abroad [but] based on the outcome of our investigations, we now believe he has died as the result of a crime.”

Forensic teams are carrying out a full search of the house in Heerhugowaard where Mr Visser lived with his son and girlfriend. “We’re digging up the garden as well, because you never know,” the spokesman said. “We’re going to leave no stone unturned.”

A neighbour told NH Nieuws that they frequently heard heated arguments in the house, but police would not say if this formed part of the investigation.

A suspect has been identified in the case but there is not enough evidence for an arrest, police said.

“At the time he went missing in 2021 we were in lockdown,” the spokesman added. “That means he was home a lot of the time and there weren’t many people out in the streets. The search of the house will hopefully give us more clues.”