Man tries to snatch 13 year old girl in Bury

Man tries entice paper girl into van

A man tried to entice a teenager into his van.

It happened on Tor Hey Mews, Greenmount, Bury, between 5.30pm and 6.15pm on 25 January 2012.

The 13-year-old girl was delivering newspapers when a white van pulled up beside her and the driver asked her to get in the van. She refused and then saw the driver switch off the engine and reach for the door handle.

At this point, the young girl ran off.

Police were called and an investigation was launched to find the driver. Inquiries have established the same van may have been parked on Tor Hey Mews a short time before the young girl was approached.

The driver is described as being white, about 40 or 45-years-old, wearing a grey woolly hat and a black padded jacket. He was also said to smell of cigarettes.

Police are now appealing to anyone with information to come forward and are also asking people, especially youngsters, to be vigilant.

Detective Sergeant Dave Baines, of Bury CID, said: "The young girl was shocked and frightened but thankfully was not physically harmed or grabbed.

"That said, it is impossible to know what the intentions of the driver were. The reason we have publicised this appeal is not to cause alarm in our community but so that parents and young people are aware of what has happened and take the necessary precautions to protect themselves.

"This is not a case of asking people to stay indoors and we do not want to cause people to be unduly worried. However we would ask that people are vigilant, where possible stick together in groups, keep to well-lit areas and if you are approached by a man in a white van then report it to the police, your parents or a responsible adult as soon as possible.

"I would also appeal to anyone who has either seen a man acting suspiciously in a van or recognises the driver from the above description to call us."

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 8152 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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