Basildon: Boy Approached By Men In Van

6 November 2013, 08:15 | Updated: 6 November 2013, 08:18

Essex Police are investigating after a boy reported being approached by three men as he walked to school in Basildon.

It happened at about 7.45am yesterday (Tuesday 5 November) between Beeleigh East and Quilters Straight.

The 12-year-old boy said that a white van pulled up ahead of him and three men got out of the vehicle.

He then ran off when one of the men tried to talk to him.

Investigating officer DC Tony Tyndall said that the van was white and believed to be a medium-sized Vauxhall van.

He said the driver was a man aged about 30, about 6ft 2in tall, with a dark complexion and a dark brown moustache. The only description of clothing was dark jogging bottoms and dirty white trainers.

The front seat passenger was thought to be in his mid-20s, about 5ft 10in tall, also with a dark complexion and black moustache. He was said to be wearing a long-sleeved black top, black jogging bottoms and black trainers.

A third man who had been sitting in the back of the van was white, aged about 25, 5ft 8in tall, of stocky build and with long dark sideburns and goatee beard. He was wearing a long-sleeved black top, black jogging bottoms and dirty white trainers.

DC Tyndall said: "We want to hear from anyone who was in the area at the time and might have seen the van driving around the area.

"We also ask parents to tell their children to be vigilant when walking to and from school and to report any cases where strangers try to talk to children."

Anyone with information should contact DC Tyndall at Basildon CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.