Members of Serbia’s special police unit called Gendarmes and the force’s helicopters joined on Thursday the search of a missing journalist in the northern town of Bela Crkva, N1 reported.

 Media reported that Serbia’s journalist Stefan Cvetkovic went missing during the night of June 13-14.

Independent media associations said that the missing journalist reported a number of threats from political and criminal circles.

A police statement said his car was found parked in the street with the doors open and lights on, adding that a search was underway.

The Beta news agency added the car engine was still running and that witnesses said that his watch was found with the bracelet broken next to the car. His mobile phones were turned off.

The Gendarmes started checking the ground around the nearby lakes, while police divers would join them later in the day to search the lakes and canals.

The helicopters fly over Stefan Cvetkovic’s abandoned car in the town’s street which is closed to traffic, while police officers, some with dogs, comb the terrain.

Cvetkovic's mother told N1 that he had said to her he might go for a trip but did not say where to.

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic said earlier on Thursday that Serbia’s top civilian intelligence agency and the police were searching for Cvetkovic.

“All the resources that the police and Security Information Agency (BIA) have at their disposal are being used to search for Cvetkovic,” the president said.