It's been five years since a Staten Island boy disappeared from the apartment of the foster family he was staying with in Brooklyn. Now, police officials are reminding the public that his search continues in the hopes that someone comes forward with information about his whereabouts. NY1’s Amanda Farinacci filed the following report.

“Missing Persons” fliers for Patrick Alford hang from lampposts and paper car windshields along Vandalia Avenue in Starrett City in Brooklyn.

Thursday was the fifth anniversary of the Staten Island boy's disappearance in 2010 and police are hoping that someone who knows what happened to him will finally come forward.

"This case will remain an active missing persons case until we find Patrick. This will never be a closed case. We will continue to give immense efforts in trying to locate him,” said Lt. Chris Zimmerman of the NYPD Missing Persons Squad.

Alford was just 7 years old when he disappeared from his foster family's apartment inside this building.

He was last seen helping his foster mother with the garbage, wearing just a T-shirt, jeans and sneakers.

An age-progression illustration shows what Patrick might look like as a 12-year-old today:

"Wow, you know, to see my son like that, you know, I don't even know what he looks like...the last time I seen him he was seven,” said mother Jennifer Rodriguez.

Rodriguez, who is the boy's biological mother, says she's pleased about the renewed push by police to find her son - and says she continues to pray for his safe return home.

Without giving specifics about the investigation into Alford's whereabouts, police officials say they have received tips that led them out of state, which is why they're urging anyone, anywhere, with information that could help locate him to come forward.

"We just need some type of closure. You know? And we don't hear nothing. Five years has been a long time,” said aunt Claudia Ortiz.

A five-year mystery that has upset his family and confounded the community.

"How do you just vanish? It's strange how you could go all over the world finding terrorists and whatnot and you can't find a kid, you know? It's really weird,” said a nearby resident.

Anyone with information about Patrick Alford is urged to call CrimeStoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

There's a $12,000 reward for information leading to his whereabouts.