Warning to parents after attempted schoolgirl abduction
Police are warning the public to be vigilant and after two men approached a teenage girl in Burnage.
Police are warning the public to be vigilant after a schoolgirl reported that she was approached by two strangers in suspicious circumstances in Burnage. At around 3pm on Monday 18 April 2016, a 16-year-old schoolgirl was walking along Errwood Road, Burnage, when she spotted a dark green car parked at the end of Shawbrook Road. As she walked past, one of two men sat in the car asked her for directions. She realised that the man who had spoken to her had also approached her in June 2015 and had again asked her for directions, before grabbing her arm and trying to guide her into his car. The girl had managed to escape on that occasion and when she challenged the man to say he had already approached her once before, he nervously replied that she had ‘looked older’ than she was. She sensibly decided to walk away and the men quickly drove the car along Errwood Road towards Levenshulme High School. The driver of the car is described as an Asian man, aged between 30 and 40-years-old, around 5ft 8in tall with a stocky build and short, black hair. The passenger is described as an Asian male, aged between 35 and 45-years-old, with a fat build and a rounded face. Detective Constable Christopher Clarke said: “It is believed that this man may have approached a number of other children in the area over the last six months, so we are asking for anyone who may have been approached by this man to come forward. “The girl did not report last year’s incident to us at the time, but after the second chance meeting with him she realised that this man is likely to have approached a number of young people in the area over the course of the last few months. “That is why it is so important to report each such incident to us, so we can be aware of any potential offenders and warn other residents to be vigilant. “No offences have actually taken place, so we are not sure what this man’s motives were, but there is a concerning pattern emerging in regards to this individual and I would like everyone to bear that in mind when they are going about their daily lives.” Anyone with information is asked to call Police on 101 quoting incident number 180416/1652 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.