Fear after another attempted child abduction in Solihull - The Solihull Observer

Fear after another attempted child abduction in Solihull

Solihull Editorial 14th May, 2014 Updated: 21st Oct, 2016   0

FEAR has once again been struck in to the hearts of Solihull parents following another attempted abduction in the borough.

The latest incident happened on Monday morning (May 12) as a 13-year-old schoolgirl was walking to school along Chelveston Crescent, Hillfield just before 8am.

The innocent youngster was approached by a man who grabbed hold of her blazer.

Terrified, she managed to escape the attacker’s clutches and ran off to tell her parents who quickly called the police.




Later the same morning, in an unlinked incident, another schoolgirl – this time a primary school pupil – was ‘shouted at’ by a driver as she made her way to school along Sharmans Cross Road at around 8.45am.

She was not touched or threatened and continued with her journey to school.


West Midlands Police have been unable to provide us with descriptions of the offenders.

These latest ‘attacks’ take the total of incidents involving children being approached up to seven since January.

The first case was on January 24 when a man tried to lure a ten-year-old girl in to his car in Slater Road, Dorridge.

This was followed on March 10 when a seven-year-old girl was asked to get in to a strange man’s car on Widney Manor Road, Solihull.

On March 26 two Widney Junior School girls were approached by an elderly man and just 24 hours later on March 27 two girls from Lode Heath School were subject to ‘sexually suggestive comment’ from a stranger.

Schools have been quick to, once again, urge vigilance from parents and pupils and continue to preach the Stranger Danger message to all pupils.

Police, meanwhile, have stepped up patrols around schools at key times of day.

The Observer has obtained a copy of a letter sent home to Widney Junior School parents following Monday’s attempted abduction (pictured).

In it Headteacher Leon Chamberlain advises parents to only allow children to walk to school in pairs if they are unaccompanied.

He added: “We treat any incidents of this nature very seriously and continue to ensure an enhanced staff presence at the start and end of the school day.”

A Solihull Council spokesperson said the authority has an effective system in place to share information with schools and parents when incidents occur.

They added: “Children have been reminded about stranger danger and those who have been involved in these incidents have all had the good sense to report their concerns.”

********************IN A BOX PLEASE*************************

WEST Midlands Police have issued the following advice to children in the wake of the latest attempted abduction:

* Never go off on your own with a stranger, take things from them or get in a car with them.

* Make sure you tell your parents where you are.

* If someone scares you, or makes you feel uncomfortable go somewhere safe, which could be your home, your school or a police station.

* Remember to tell someone what has happened straight away.

* Always dial 999 in an emergency.

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