Sunil Tripathi Missing: Family hopes surveillance video will help find missing Brown University student

(CBS) -- The family of a missing Brown University student is hoping that a newly released surveillance video will lead clues into the student's disappearance, the Boston Globe reports.

Pictures: Missing Brown University student

Sunil Tripathi, 22, was reported missing by his girlfriend on March 16. Surveillance footage released Friday showed a man matching Tripathi's description walking near the student's apartment in just 20 minutes after his last recorded computer activity, according to The Associated Press.

"This footage provides important clues that can help hone our search for Sunil," said sister Sangeeta Tripathi in a statement.

The man in the video is seen early morning on March 16 walking south on Brook Street in Providence, R.I., a route that friends said Tripathi often took, according to the Globe.

Tripathi's family expressed their gratitude to Providence businesses that made their surveillance footage available to authorities, the Globe reports. Authorities expanded their search last week to greater Boston, an area he often visited.

"We have been awed by the outpouring of support from the Providence community," said brother Ravi Tripathi. "From grocery store and coffee shop owners who are posting flyers to the waves of complete strangers who have volunteered to search the parks and canvass the streets, the community's willingness to pitch in to find Sunny has been really remarkable."

Complete coverage of Sunil Tripathi on Crimesider