AIBU - to ask......

[rockinhippy]

Okay I know I am but we have what is becoming a more & more worrying Attempted Child Abduction situation happening in our area - & I was surprised to have my Cousin who lives a long way from us tell me they've had the EXACT same thing there last year too - stopped recently & is now hitting our area & as this is the busiest section I thought it the best place to ask the question because

A. I wonder if my Cousins area is the only other part of the country this has happened in - bar another more local that I also know about - & wonder if the Police will be joining the dots across the country so to speak

B. If its not then maybe its something we all need to be aware of

Its a black car, trying to grab kids & talk kids off the street into his car, outside Schools, sometimes 2 people in the car & 2 other incidents have been kids playing out - the latest attempt yesterday was 2 young girls on scooters right under their Mums noses - Mum ran after the Car, but the police seem to think number plates are being changed

So far this is the 5th local attempt & we've had warnings from Schools & all cases have been confirmed - on looking for news stories I came across articles in Crawley where the same thing was happening back in October & a similar incident happened recently in West Sussex too.

It it just my area, & other local areas & purely by coincidence my Cousins midlands area too, or have any of you had similar reports where you live too??

Thanks

Very freaky looking e-fit - wonder if we have any e-fits here by now - - but yes mostly similar MO her as regards telling them to get in the car & driving off - I did here that last weeks one tried to grab a girl off the street & drag her in the car & she wriggled free & they drove off & I 'think^ yesterdays grabbed at the scooter & the Mum went after them - texts a bit confusing but thats how it reads -- scary

hear - not here - I'm brian dead as usual

it really is looking like its very wide spread

Brian's dead? Shit.

Sorry, serious subject, couldn't resist, ahem, sorry.

Made me laugh Happydoll but yes, serious subject, sorry.

Maryz, I am totally against locking kids up, DS walked to school from 9 and DD (5) is starting to play in the front without me hovering. BUT there are many police reports out recently WITH reg plates, e-fits and full criminal investigations underway.

There certainly does seem to be a national spate.

Absolutely Maryz. I live in Herts and upon hearing the MK incident I reran through stranger danger with DS (11). It all seemed a bit silly but I explained why I wanted to do it and he was cool, and alert to it.

I also explained what I would do if he wasn't home in time - at what point my 'emergency procedures' kick in to place, so he can see he is surrounded by fool proof processes should anything go wrong. Therefore no need for locking up.

What I am saying is that I thought the MK one was an isolated incident, if it's not we should all be aware - not hysterical - aware.

If there is a spate I would hazard a guess we are looking at increased child trafficking crimes, given a) the state of the economy and b) the fact that these incidents seem to have been carried out by complete amateurs. The biggest deterrent for wannabe child abductors would be knowledge. If the 'stranger danger' message was reinforced loudly again, children would be empowered to be independant, armed with sensible precautions.

made me giggle too happydoll - I can't get me hears right AND I just killed Brian - no hope for me :( - lol

Maryz - you are right, I'm dead against locking kids up too, I hate the fact that DD can't have more freedom than she does, but thats down to where we live, I do give her as much as I can, but its just not the rural setting I grew up in & a lot around her to be dangerous - thats even without the recent incidents, so its a lot less than I would like too

but that said, she has a lot more freedom than a lot of her friends & is a lot more street savvy as a result - I actually worry less about her than I do some of her friends TBH - I was worried enough to walk one of her friends out of School to meet her Mum, who was parked quite away from the School, because she is much younger than DD, though same class - not just in years, but just in herself IYSWIM - very sweet natured, friendly & very naive, just the sort that might fall for it :(

& too think its important we are all aware, especially seeing the response on here, I really wasn't expecting it to be as wide spread as it is - & thats going on the news articles & School warnings alone - its very odd that theres so many similar incidents & it has made me keep reminding DD of the stranger danger chats.

Its nothing new, I had 2 attempts to abduct me as a kid, my brother quite a serious one & DH too, so I think its always been there & not uncommon, but this seems to be something potentially a bit more sinister, so not getting hysterical, but definitely taking it seriously

What?

Wrong thread. Apologies,

Happened here last year. Rumours were flying around police constantly patrolling. I went out 3 times and asked them what they were doing, Nothing, patrolling. I then rang them up and told them about the rumours, still nothing. That afternoon i kid you not, i stood in front of the patrol car. They told me the week before there had been and attempted abduction in my town and the next one. " of the 4 primarys and the senior school then issued letters. My school didnt so i went and seen the headmistress. She knew nothing about it. Nothing in the paper and nothing on the news.

I did find a local online news article later last night, though much less sensationalist than the stories doing the rounds - some of which were confirmed, even by the School & 1 friend has DCs at the School one incident happened at & knows the DCs & family well - so not sure what to make of that now - have the press been told to play it down I wonder, or has it just been exaggerated & all chinese whispers perhaps a bit of both

again the most recent incident is very different in the press to whats coming from what I believe is a reliable source - the press version sounds a bit loopy & paranoid - still a worry though - mind you I've had dealings myself with our local press & they are not known for getting it right [rollseyes]

here

Whoops forgot the link

Great

I just waved ds off to school on his own

This thread has made me feel sick

Cheers for that

there has been few incidents in our area north kent and kent sussex border different incidents but not linked it was in news then it wasnt followed through

I will worry about this when I read about actual real convictions for abduction. Until then I will not concern myself with rumours.

It is a fact that children are in most danger at home. With their families. Attacks/abductions etc. by strangers are in fact very very rare.