Attempted child abductions

Police in Coventry are seriously concerned this half term following two attempted child abductions over the weekend.

According to West Midlands police, the first happened at 8.15am on Saturday 29 May.  An 11 year old girl had been exercising her new puppy in Edgewick Park with her father when the puppy ran off.  She chased the dog and found it on Foleshill Road at the junction with Cross Road.  A passing postman managed to get hold of the dog as a man pulled up in a silver or grey coloured car. Misinterpreting the situation, the postman passed the dog to the man in the car thinking he was the girl’s father.  The man in the car asked the girl to get in, she refused and he left with the dog.

The dog is described as a 10 month old husky.  The man driving the grey or silver car is described as an Asian man in his mid 30s or 40s with black hair in a parting.  He was clean shaven apart from a slight moustache.  He was wearing scruffy tracksuit bottoms.

Police have spoken to the postman but are keen to trace other witnesses including two women who were sat at a nearby bus stop at the time, also anyone who knows the whereabouts of the puppy.

Officers are also investigating the possibility that this is connected to a second child abduction attempt at 4pm on Sunday 30 May. A 13 year old girl stood on Henley Road at the junction of Newhall Road was approached by a silver car with tinted windows.  The driver, an Asian man described as being in his 20s or 30s with shaven hair and bushy eyebrows asked her to get into the car.  The girl refused and ran to a nearby friend’s house.

Detective Inspector Stuart Bell said:  “Any case of attempted child abduction is seriously concerning to us.  As such we have increased patrols in the area and trawled through cctv to get potential leads.  We would encourage all parents to remain vigilant and ensure they know where their children are over the half term holidays."

Witnesses are asked to call CID at Willenhall police station on 0345 113 5000.