Residents' Association Forum

Dear all,

the details i was given were patchy and I will update as I have more news but there have apparently been 3 attempted abductions this week. all schoolgirls circa 11 years of age. It seems after a lot of screaming no harm was done but again I dont know this for sure.

2 men in a van, one bald.

Will update as I hear anything else as of course anyone else will.

Please tell anyone you know & be vigilant.

3 attempted abductions may be pitching it a bit high.  What are the details?

I am aware of two incidents as follows:
This morning 8 June before school a group of Hinchley Wood students were approached by a white male, short brown hair, jeans and trainers.  This occurred by Thames Ditton Station.  The police are aware and will be doing reassurance patrols in the surrounding area.

On Friday 27  May at around 6.30pm a red Ford Escort car pulled up outside Hinchley Wood school and the driver of the car appeared to be acting suspiciously as a girl from the secondary school walked along the pathway. 

Always a good idea to refresh stranger danger warnings and drills with young children.

Those were all the details I was given by a school mum, will update if and when I hear more

Another incident was reported on Friday. A child was approached on the way to school on Thursday morning last week. Apparently a middle aged man, asking the child if they wanted a lift. The school issued the stranger danger alert.

The child did the correct thing and ran away.

This was on the way to Hinchley Wood primary school.

As we get 'stranger danger' warnings fairly frequently, and parents are very keen to know about them, and as schools notify their children's parents but not necessarily others, I'll change the title of this thread and make it a sticky.  'Stranger danger' warnings can thus be more easily given wider dissemination.

Please be careful to respect scrupulously the general guidance for this part of the forum and keep notices of 'stranger danger' or flasher incidents objective and if possible substantiated.  Thanks.

Im told letters were issued to Junior school parents and that certain gates have been kept closed on the schools as a security measure. No further information.

PC Peter Bazley is currently on foot patrol in the wooded area of Weston Green following recent reports of males exposing themselves. - Elmbridge Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team TWEET 09:35am

http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2097943_man_exposed_himself_to_lone_woman_

"POLICE in Elmbridge have this week released an e-fit image following an incident where a man exposed himself to a woman in Esher. The incident took place in a wooded area off Weston Green Road shortly after 11am on Tuesday July 26. The victim, a 31-year-old woman, parked her vehicle in Weston Green Road and was walking to Esher train station."

hmnn.  We weren't briefed on this one.   Photofit pic: (http://m.gmgrd.co.uk/sbres/855.$plit/C_67_article_2097943_body_articleblock_0_bodyimage.jpg?12%2F08%2F2011%2010%3A26%3A48%3A561)

I reported a flasher in the same location (woods off Weston Green Road) two months ago. I emailed full details to PC Bazley, whose colleague asked me to give a telephone statement to Surrey Police, which I did. I was then told that for the matter to be taken further I would have to go to Staines to give a statement. So a Thames Ditton resident who witnesses a crime in Thames Ditton has to go to Staines to report it?! I didn't. 

did he look like the man above?

The physical description (hair length / colour, skin colour etc) matches, but according to the report this man is in 40s or 50s and the man I saw was definitely younger - 20s.

Latest advisory circulated by a local school:
We would like to draw to your attention to some issues that have recently arisen on Facebook.  Some of our students have accepted a male, posing as a Kingston Grammar School Student, as a friend.  He has allegedly stated that his father owns Hollister and can get discount should students meet him in Kingston.  He has also alleged friendship connections with senior members of [the school's] staff which we believe to be false.  Please can we remind parents that students should only befriend persons on social networking sites that are known to them and should not disclose any personal information.  You may wish to review/check your son/daughters security settings on Facebook.

Stay aware, refresh your kids' briefing:
Last week some Year 8 Hinchley Wood School students were approached by an old man in Thames Ditton who started taking photos of them.  He later stopped one of their male friends asking about his 'girlfriends'. He appeared to be overly interested in young girls. He is approximately 65 years old, overweight and balding.  This also fits the description of a man who was reported to have approached some other students in the Molesey area.

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[[ comment - the 'balding' lets me out!]

Extract from and email sent today from Hinchley Wood Primary School.


We would like to make you aware of worrying incidents in the local area.  There was a "flasher" reported in the Thames Ditton area last week.  This morning a man was acting suspiciously outside Maple Infants in Surbiton, there followed an altercation with parents who questioned him. Later in the morning there was someone acting suspiciously outside Surbiton High School.  It is not known if this was the same person.  All incidents have been reported to the police.

Please take this opportunity to remind your children of stranger danger, particularly those who walk to and from school alone or with their friends.  We shall also remind the children of this in school.

yup also see here ref kingston:

http://www.kingstonguardian.co.uk/news/9720001.Boy_escapes_abduction_attempt/

Flasher also reported along Church Walk last Friday apparently.  No further details.

I see a 10 year old boy is missing in Addlestone, hopefully not connected.

Missing 10 year old seems to be a mistake?

http://www.964eagle.co.uk/news/local-news/686112/tweet-causes-confusion-over-missing-boy-in-addlestone/

Does confirm there are a few incidents that police seem to be 'linking' in Kingston / Surbiton

http://www.elmbridgeguardian.co.uk/news/9724195.Police_search_for_missing_10_year_old/

more here:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/london/london-schools-alert-police-at-school-gates-over-child-abduction-attempts-after-boy-nearly-grabbed-as-he-walked-to-primary-7784853.html

Update from TD Junior School:


Thames Ditton Junior School : Danger Stranger ALERT

Kingston Police are investigating three incidents, two of which were reported by school children, which includes one alleged attempted abduction.

The first reported incident happened in the grounds of a primary school in Surbiton on Thursday 17 May. It is alleged that a man and a woman approached a girl who was getting some water from a fountain. The child felt scared so ran off and informed a teacher. Staff subsequently alerted police.

There are no further descriptions of the suspects.

The second reported incident took place within the grounds of a different primary school in Surbiton. At 09:10hrs on Monday 21 May, a man believed to be in his mid 20's approached the child and grabbed hold of him. The boy, who had been dropped off a short time before, struggled and was able to break free and alert staff. The child was unhurt during the incident and did not require medical attention.

The man left the scene. He is described as white, with a tan, wearing a black jumper with a blue shirt underneath, blue trousers and a black woolly hat.

It is believed he was accompanied by a woman who is described as white, with long black hair, of slim build, approximately 5' 6", wearing a red hooded top and red trousers.

At this time both of these incidents are being linked.

The third reported incident happened in a primary school in Worcester Park at approximately 15:15hrs on Monday 21 May. A man was seen on a push bike weaving in and out of cars parked in the public car park at the front of the school. The person who reported the incident shouted at the man and he rode away. This suspect is described as a white man in his early 20s wearing a woolly hat.

This incident is being investigated by the same team and a link to the first two incidents has not been ruled out at this time.

In response to these reported incidents Kingston police has placed officers and police community support officers outside every primary and secondary school in the area today, during the morning and afternoon, to have a visible presence and address any community concerns.

A policing plan has been put in place and extra patrols have been arranged which will continue throughout half term. House to house enquiries are being completed around the three affected schools; CCTV footage is being analysed from the schools and the wider area.

Kingston Borough Commander Chief Superintendent Martin Greenslade said:

"I understand that the community will be deeply concerned about these incidents and I want to reassure parents that we are treating them extremely seriously and are conducting vigorous enquiries.

"We have instigated extra patrols in the borough and are maintaining an increased visible presence outside local schools.

"I am appealing to the community to come forward and assist us, with any information, no matter how small that may be, that will help us with these investigations.

"I would remind the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to us. I would also ask parents to take the opportunity to remind their children how to stay safe and not to speak with strangers.

Ive just recieved an email stating the below.

An incident took place on Friday March 1st at 1730, along the alley way from Manor Road to Lynwood park.

A Hinchley Wood Year 7 girl was approached and chased.

A male, asain 5'10 medium build wearing dark blue jeans and green hooded top. Driving medium size orange van.

is this confirmed? sounds very sinister

I believe so.

"The incident has been reported to the police,  crime reference number: P130625503"

You may like to re-brief your kids after HWS report:
A female student was approached on Lynwood Road at approximately 6.45pm on Sunday evening by a white male, slim build wearing a black raincoat and black trousers.  When she refused to go with the man he said he would leave her alone if she gave him something.  The student handed over her mobile phone and she was able to get away.
The police have been notified and should you have any further information you should contact the police directly.