Twelve children aged between seven and 16 were approached by strangers in western Sydney in the past four weeks. ISABELL PETRINIC reports.
Police said a 15-year-old girl was touched inappropriately in Plumpton. Two 16-year-olds at Northmead were made to watch as a man committed a lewd act.
Six of the nine recent incidents occurred in the Blacktown Council, but the council did not record the most youth abductions last financial year for this area — Holroyd did with 19.6 incidents per 100,000 people.
This compares to 12.7 per 100,000 people in Penrith, 7.7 for Parramatta and 6.4 for NSW.
We also looked at figures for The Hills, Auburn, Hawkesbury and Hornsby Councils.
Commander of the Sex Crimes Squad, Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett (pictured), said the vast majority of attempted child abduction cases reported to police were simply instances where the child felt uncomfortable or suspected they might have been followed.
"Nevertheless, we continue to encourage any child who feels uncomfortable or threatened to go to a safe location and contact police," Detective Superintendent Howlett said.
"All matters reported to police are thoroughly investigated.
She said the level of attempted child abductions in NSW remained stable.
"As with any other time of year, children should exercise caution during the school holidays," she said.
"Importantly, kids should make sure that their parents or other adults know where they are at all times.
"When heading out without their parents, children should walk on roads and streets where there are lots of other people around.
"With respect to public transport, children should travel near transport staff members.
"If on a train, kids should look for the guard's compartment identified by a blue light and travel there.
"If on a bus, children should sit up the front near the driver if possible."
Detective Superintendent Howlett said children should also know the locations of safe places.
"A safe place may be a shop, a service station, a police station, a library or any other public place a child feels safe in," she said.
"If ever a child is frightened, they should head to one of these places and ask an adult at the location to call the police."
■ September 8, 2014, about 10am, a 14-year-old girl is walking along Sunnyholt Road when two white older vans stop next to her. A man gets out of one of the vans, runs over to the girl and grabs her arm while speaking to her. The girl pulls away from the man and runs to her school.
Description: The man is described as Mediterranean/Middle Eastern in appearance, aged in his 30s, of medium build, with short black hair and wearing a black shirt and blue denim jeans. Other peoples in the van were not described.
■ August 12, 2014, about 8.30am, a man speaks to a seven-year-old boy standing in a park between Barr and Bass streets. He allegedly asks for the boy’s name and address, before running away to a nearby school.
Description: Police want to speak to a man described as being in his 30s, with a dark complexion and wearing a navy blue cap.
■ September 4, 2014, about 3.05pm, a 12-year-old boy is walking along Northcott Road when an older model white Camry with a grey bumper bar stops near him. The driver offers him money if he will get into the car. The child refuses and runs from the area. The car makes a u-turn and approaches the boy again, offering him money to get in the car. He again refuses and runs further along Northcott Road. The vehicle drives off, turning right onto Pineleigh Street.
Description: The driver is described as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander appearance, around 35-years-old, unshaven and wearing a fluorescent work vest. A front seat passenger is described only as male about 28, wearing a black jumper with white stripes.
■ September 1, 2014, about 3pm, a 13-year-old girl is walking along Ninth Avenue towards Third Street when a white Holden Commodore VX pulls up beside her. The male driver speaks to her, she becomes afraid and keeps walking. A few minutes later the car drives away and her mother arrives.
Description: The driver has been described as Mediterranean/Middle Eastern in appearance, aged in his mid-20s to 30s, with short black hair.
■ September 23, about 6.20pm, a 15-year-old girl is walking north along Percy Street when a man in a silver or grey 90s model Toyota Seca stops near her. The driver asks the girl to get into the car, she declines and keeps walking. The car follows her slowly as she turns right on to Vernon Street. Fearing for her safety, the girl runs towards a woman standing in her front yard. After a few minutes, the car drives down Noel Street towards Richmond Road.
Description: The man has been described as being aged in his late teens or early 20s, with a skinny build, brown skin, a black beard or goatee, and black hair. He was last seen wearing a green shirt and black pants.
■ September 11, 2014, about 3.20pm, two 16-year-old girls are walking through a reserve on Allambie Road when a man approaches them from behind and makes lewd comments. The girls turn around and see the man commit a lewd act. They run to a nearby children’s play area and speak to a member of the public who calls the police.
Description: Officers from the Parramatta Local Area Command would like to speak with a man who they believe may be able to assist with inquiries. The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 30 to 40 years old, 185cm to 190cm tall, with short dark hair. He was last seen wearing a brown t-shirt and yellow hi-visibility trousers.
■ September 19, 2014, about 11.15am, a 15-year-old girl is standing outside her school on Hyatts Road when a man approaches her from behind, places his hand across her mouth and touches her inappropriately. The girl breaks free, runs inside the school grounds and reports the incident to staff.
Description: Officers from Mount Druitt Local Area Command would like to speak with a man who may be able to assist with their inquiries. He is described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, aged in his mid 30s, 170-175cm tall, with a solid build, black hair with grey regrowth and a beard. At the time of the incident, the man was wearing a black hooded jacket and grey track pants with white stripes down the sides.
■ August 31, 2014, about 1.30pm, three children are walking along Flushcombe Road when they are approached by a man who stops in front of them. He says he can’t speak much English and needs help calling someone on his mobile. A girl, 13, takes the phone to help him. As she does, the man strokes her arm several times. She steps back. The man takes the girl’s hand and holds it for a second. She pulls away. He then asks the girl in broken English to go to his car and ring his son. The children all became concerned and start walking away. The man then says “Come help me’’ in perfect English, crosses the road and gets into a car described as a white sedan with tinted windows.
Description: The man has been described as being Middle Eastern in appearance, aged in his late 50s to early 60s, 163cm tall, of chubby build with short dark hair, wearing a brown jacket.
■ August 18, 2014, about 2.50pm, a 13-year-old girl is walking along Best Road when a man approaches her. She keeps walking and a second man approaches her. She walks towards Alice Street where a dark car stops next to her, containing the two men who earlier approached the girl plus three more men. One man leaves the car and approaches the girl, who runs from the scene and alerts her mum who calls the police.
Description: Officers attached to Blacktown Local Area Command would like to speak to two men who may be able to assist them with their inquiries. One man is described as being of Indian Sub-Continental appearance, 170-180cm tall, about 30 years old, and was seen wearing a black t-shirt and a black jacket. The second man is described as being of Indian Sub-Continental appearance, 170-180cm tall and of slim build. He was wearing a red t-shirt and a black jacket.
Police encourage parents to discuss the ‘Safe People, Safe Places’ messages with their children, including:
● Make sure your parents or another adult you know knows where you are at all times;
● Always walk straight home or to the place you are walking to. Walk near busier roads and streets, or use paths where there are lots of other people;
● Know where safe places are – a shop, service station, police station, library or school. If you are ever frightened, you should go to one of these places and ask them to call the police;
"If someone tries to grab you, yell out ‘Go away, I don’t know you’"
● Learn about safe adults you can look for and talk to if you need help – police officers, teachers at school, adults you know and trust;
● Don’t talk to people you don’t know and never get into a car with someone you don’t know. If a car stops on the side of the road and you don’t know the person inside, do not stop;
● If you are scared and can use a phone, call 000 and tell them you are scared;
● If someone tries to grab you, yell out ‘Go away, I don’t know you’. This lets other people know you have been approached by someone you don’t know.
Figures are per 100,000 population, by council area, July 2013 to June 2014:
■ Auburn: 0;
■ Blacktown: 5.7;
■ Hawkesbury: 0;
■ Holroyd: 19.6;
■ Hornsby: 0;
■ NSW: 6.4;
■ Parramatta: 7.7;
■ Penrith: 12.7;
■ The Hills: 0.
Figures are per 100,000 population, by council area, July 2013 to June 2014:
■ Auburn: 5.0;
■ Blacktown: 5.0;
■ Hawkesbury: 3.1;
■ Holroyd: 9.4;
■ Hornsby: 1.2;
■ NSW: 4.5;
■ Parramatta: 7.3;
■ Penrith: 8.6;
■ The Hills: 0.6.
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