Attempted Child Abductions

18th November 2005

Officers in Stockport are warning parents to be on their guard following
two reported attempted abductions in the last week. In both incidents, which have happened in the Gatley area, the victims have reported that a man in a white van has approached them and tried to persuade them to get into the van.

In the first incident an 11-year-old boy was approached at approximately 4.55pm on Saturday 12 November 2005, as he stood outside a friend's house on Altrincham Road. A white van pulled up and the man opened his passenger door and said he could give the boy a lift home. The boy then ran away to a nearby house where he informed the occupants. The police were then called.

On Wednesday 16 November, officers were informed that a pupil at Kingsway Lower School had been approached by a man near to Gatley Recreation Ground yesterday afternoon. At 3.30pm a man pulled up near to the 11-year-old and told him he could give the boy a lift home. The 11-year-old ran away from the man and informed a teacher today.

In both cases the man has been described as being white, in his fifties, scruffy in appearance and with a moustache. He also had a tweed hat on.

Due to the proximity of the two locations and descriptions of the offenders officers believe that the incidents maybe linked Detective Inspector Denise WORTH, from Stockport CID, said: "At present we are making a number of enquiries to try and trace the man who approached the two boys. Our intention in releasing this information is to alert and not alarm parents in the area. "It is encouraging that in both these circumstances the children concerned have acted appropriately when approached by a stranger.

Parents need to reinforce the message to their children that if they are approached by a stranger that they should not accept anything from them and not go anywhere with them.

"We have also informed local schools of these incidents and the information will be passed onto pupils via school staff. "If anyone has any information about these incidents they are asked to contact Stockport CID on 0161 856 9849 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."