Berry Drive, Aldridge. Imagery from Bing! Maps.
I notice from a number of sources and circulating social media that police and schools in Aldridge and Streetly are warning parents about an incident in Berry Drive, Aldridge on Monday, June 8th 2015.
I think readers of the Brownhills Blog should be aware of the warning and keep an eye out, too, please.
An article in the Walsall Advertiser reads:
Schools in Walsall and Sutton Coldfield on alert after attempted abduction of schoolgirl
By Walsall Advertiser | Posted: June 09, 2015Letters and text messages have been sent to parents at schools in Streetly and Aldridge following the reported incident.
A letter – which is signed off by Keith Farquhar, headteacher of Cooper and Jordan School – has been shared with the Advertiser and says that the incident occurred yesterday (Monday, June 8).
A female student from Aldridge School was allegedly approached by a man driving a white and green transit van, which has writing on the side.
The man has been described as a white male, aged 20 to 30 years old, with brown, short style hair.
The incident is said to have occurred in Berry Drive at 8am.
In the letter, Mr Farquhar adds: ‘Please remind your son/daughter about safety to and from school and not to talk to strangers.’
Text message alerts have also been sent to parents of pupils at Lindens Primary School, in Streetly.
It stated: ‘We have been notified that an attempted abduction has taken place in the Aldridge area.White male, green and white van. Please be vigilant.’
The school confirmed they were informed about the incident by Blackwood Primary School, in Streetly.
A West Midlands Police spokesperson said: ‘The father of a 13-year-old girl reported to police that a man in a green and white van shouted at his daughter on her way to school in Berry Drive, Aldridge yesterday morning (Monday, June 8).
‘The man made no effort to get out of the van and the girl continued to school where she told staff about the incident.
‘An officer attended Aldridge School and spoke to the teenager and her father.
‘The school used the event as an opportunity to remind parents of the need to teach young people the stranger danger message.’
If you see anything suspicious, or have concerns, please do contact West Midlands Police by dialling 101 or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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have alway been very open and honest to my son, giving him the best/ worst case scenarios that the world might put us through… Always taught him to speak the truth.. Explaining that if someone says mommy or daddy will get in trouble or it’s our secret… That they should tell us straight away … And to never except a life off anybody, even if they know them !! unless me or his dad instructed him to!!! It’s really bad we have to live like this, and this is the reason I only had one child.. It’s to heartbreaking 😭 the sentencing people get for such crimes are nothing, hence why when they are released they do it again and again and again … It should be a death sentence FULLSTOP !!!!!
Except a lift not life sorry
Good job they didn’t hang this one. Just in from Kevin Pitt, of West Midlands Police:
‘West Midlands Police have issued the following statement regarding this incident:Police investigating a report of an attempted abduction of a schoolgirl in Aldridge on 8 June have established that no crime has occurred.
The driver of the van, described in the letter which was distributed from local schools to parents, has come forward to police and it is clear that no offence has been committed.
The girl’s parents have been spoken to by officers and the matter has been resolved.
We appreciate schools sharing personal safety alerts with parents and we would be grateful if you could share this update with colleagues and parents in the same way.’