Warning as men try to coax teenage girl into waiting car
By peter warzynski
School staff have warned parents and children to be on the look-out for two men who approached a young girl and tried to coax her into a car.
Teachers sent out texts, e-mails and letters to families in Coalville telling them about the incident which took place in Castle Rock Drive on Wednesday.
Police said a 16-year-old pupil at nearby King Edward VII College was approached as she walked home about 3.30pm.
Officers said two men told her to get into a red Ford Fiesta with blacked-out windows, but she refused and continued home.
Staff at King Edwards, in Warren Hill Road, neighbouring Castle Rock High School and Newbridge High School, in the town, all sent out warnings to parents.
Castle Rock High School head teacher Julia Patrick said these sort of incidents were rare, but precautions were needed to make sure youngsters were safe.
She said: "We just need to be very vigilant and make sure we protect our young people – we take everything very seriously.
"Our staff drive around on an ad-hoc basis to make sure the children are safe, and to make sure the children are behaving themselves – it works both ways."
Pat Young, head teacher at Newbridge High School, in Forest Road, said: "When we were informed about what happened, we used all the electronic means available to us – text and e-mails – to inform parents about the situation, and we also sent letters home with the children.
"We explained the dangers to the children in school – and we always tell them about the dangers of getting into cars and shouting out if they need to – but without making them feel terrified.
"These situations are rare, but they do happen.
"It's difficult to put on extra teacher patrols because these things tend to happen away from the school and we don't have the people power.
A police spokesman said: "Luckily, the young girl was not hurt, but has been left upset and shaken.
"We have contacted the school to warn them about the incident but we would like to issue this further warning to ask families in area to be extra vigilant and contact us with any information they have."
Coalville county councillor Michael Wyatt said: "This is certainly worrying and needs to be nipped in the bud as soon as possible.
"I know there are CCTV cameras in that area and I hope the police will use them to try to catch these men. The children's safety always comes first."
Officers said there had been no reports of similar incidents in the area.
The men have both been described as white and fair-haired. One of the men was in his 20s and the other was in his 40s.
The Leicester Mercury contacted King Edward College but the school refused to comment. 作者: lemonbunny 时间: 2011-5-28 08:58
