A DEVASTATED family yesterday made an emotional plea for the safe return of a missing Frankston couple last seen in Ballarat on October 28. Rebecca Michels and her fiance Craig Stanley told friends they planned to go camping and pan for gold in regional Victoria, before using a hire car to travel to Ballarat. Ms Michels, just days after celebrating her 25th birthday, sent a text message to workmates to say she would miss a shift but the couple have not been heard from since. Family and friends yesterday turned to social media to appeal for them to make contact, while police say the couple are now considered missing persons. More than 1600 people had joined a group seeking to spread photos and information about the missing couple.Mr Stanley, 28, is a former defence force recruit and had arranged for the rented gold Nissan X-Trail to be taken back to Frankston by a car transport firm in Ross Creek. Before leaving Melbourne, the couple left a note asking a friend to collect some clothing, camping gear and a metal detector from the car when it was returned days later. Police said the strange events surrounding their disappearance were out of character for the “high-school sweethearts” who rekindled their relationship after she relocated from Darwin at the start of the year. It was unclear why the couple, who had access to three functional and registered vehicles, had used a hire car. Michels’ sister Cathryn McAdie said they planned to marry in Las Vegas in June. “We speak all the time, so I just can’t believe she wouldn’t contact me if she could.“Both of her sisters are pregnant and she never misses work, so it is so unlike her to vanish and we are really struggling to understand what has happened,” Ms McAdie said. Ms Michels is described as 160 centimetres tall with a thin build and shoulder-length brown hair. Mr Stanley is about 172 centimetres tall with a medium build, short black hair with a moustache and beard.Frankston Police Detective Senior Constable Chris Sweet called on anyone with information to come forward. “They are a happy couple, there’s no indication there’s any problems, so our primary concern is making sure that they’re safe.“It’s absolutely just a missing persons’ case ... there’s no other indications it’s anything else at this stage,’’ he said. Police said they were liasing with Ballarat authorities about a possible search, but no plans were being implemented last night. Anyone with information about the couple’s whereabouts are asked to contact Victoria Police, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au