Paradise Lane is a fairly quiet, residential area of Pelsall. Imagery from Google Earth.

I notice from a number of sources including Jayne Howarths wonderful Common People blog for Pelsall that police and schools there are warning parents about a suspected attempted abduction incident in Paradise Lane, Pelsall, on Saturday last (7th February 2015).

I think readers of the Brownhills Blog should be aware of the warning and keep an eye out, too, please.

A letter sent to parents by one school yesterday reads:

Monday, 9th February, 2015

Dear Parent,
Re: Incident in Paradise Lane on Saturday

West Midlands Police have advised us of an attempted abduction on Saturday at 4:30pm in Paradise Lane. A 6 year-old boy from Pelsall Village School, who had run round from his back garden to collect a ball, was approached by a man in a balaclava, who got out of a dirty white van and attempted to grab the boy. The child kicked the man and managed to run to safety.

Police have as yet been unable to apprehend the suspect, so we ask you to be vigilant; to talk to your child about keeping safe and to ensure that you know of your child’s whereabouts at all times.

We will be reminding children about ‘stranger danger’ in assembly this afternoon, but will not give any precise details of the incident.

This is clearly a very worrying incident – so please, if you have any information, do speak to the police. If you know who the man might be, or if you saw anything at all, please do contact West Midlands Police by dialling 101 or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Stay safe, folks.

A letter sent out by one of the Pelsall schools yesterday, and posted on Facebook by Linda Cannon.