Appeal for information following suspicious incident in Westbury

Police are appealing for information following a suspicious incident which took place in Westbury. 

Between 5.00pm and 6.00pm on Friday 1st May 2015, a six-year-old girl was approached by a man in Saxon Close. The man, who was driving a white van, pulled up near to the victim and told her he had sweets in the back of his van. The girl ran in to a relatives house and the man drove off.

The man is described as white, approximately 25 to 30 years old, tall and of skinny build. He had dark hair and was wearing a white t-shirt, black jeans and black shoes.

PC Gavin Hucks, community beat manager for Westbury, is appealing for information in relation to this incident. He said, “This was obviously a frightening experience for the victim, who did the right thing by reporting the incident to an adult who then called the police.

“I would like to reassure members of the public that we take reports like this very seriously and are carrying out a thorough investigation, including house to house enquiries and increased patrols in the area.

“I would also like to remind parents and guardians that, although incidents like this are rare, it is important to remain vigilant and teach children not to talk to strangers. It is also important, especially as we are starting to experience warmer weather and lighter evenings, that parents and guardians know the location of their children if they are outside playing in local streets and parks.

“This incident comes just a few weeks after police received a report that two girls, aged eight and nine years old, had been approached by a man in a white/silver van in Shetland Close. However, following a thorough police investigation, information has since come to light that this was in fact a fictitious report and an officer will be giving suitable words of advice.

“I am appealing to anyone who was in the Saxon Close area during the time of this incident on 1st May 2015, and who may have seen a man acting in a suspicious manner, to contact police immediately on 101.”

Anyone with information should call PC Hucks on 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be left anonymously.