child snatch attempt: UPDATE suspect taken into custody

[JoeChuff]

News doesn't just magically appear in the papers / on TV - if no journalist has learnt about this incident, it won't be reported.

[ed_pete]

So if I get this right until its covered in the media then you aren't going to believe it actually happened ?

[millymoll]

I have known one of the children concerned for years and she is an immensly sensible girl (year 6). She doesn't

strike me as a fantasist. It seems the girls knew they were being followed so decided to walk towards some

shops where they knew there would people around. When the man picked one of the girls up they shouted and

enough people were alerted to frighten him off.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Of course I don't expect something to be true just because the media haven't got on to it - and I hope my genuine concern about something like this happening is also evident

But I am surprised at the lack of any attention other than a school letter and a local forum, given the recent circumstances.

If this person has struck twice now, has anyone with any details highlighted it to get more exposure so the person doesn't strike again (or at least makes it less likely)

I don't wish to cast any aspersions but by trying to firm up some details it appears I am. As snorky points out, kids don't usually just get plucked off the street - certainly not at this age and with friends?

So if it has happened shouldn't we be doing MORE - maybe someone is and I just don't know about it

[Ganapati]

As my husband pointed out to me the other night when I said--Imagine the cheek of someone trying to do this in broad daylight--this is *exactly* how several young girls were kidnapped in Belgium (where we used to live).

[Asset]

If someone is sick and desperate enough, they will try anything. No it doesn't 'usually' happen (thank goodness).

There was a case reported in the media a few weeks ago of a man trying to snatch a toddler from its pushchair in full view of the mother, in broad daylight. These people are ill and don't think rationally.

So just because it doesn't 'usually' happen, doesn't mean it never happens........

[dulwichbloke]

Was this anywhere near the small park by Sainsburys on DKH (by the football club)? There was an exceedingly suspicious looking man wandering around there by the children's playground at about 4.30 on Tuesday.

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

Tom Wrote:

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> sorry to be a bit sceptical, but why hasn't this

> been followed up on the news? surely 2 events

> should qualify for london tonight?

> why have there not been signs up from the police.

> i nice big yellow board would help raise awareness

> very quickly.

>

> The Administrator]

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

Sean, you're not bathing yourself in glory on this subject are you. I heard of a similar incident that occurred on Calton Avenue 3 months prior to this and the description of the perpetrator sounds very, very similar. The reason I heard is because my son has an evening activity at the church and the teacher told us what had happened (I think from memory that it was a child leaving a scouts meet held at the church) and warned us to be extra vigilant. He also doesn't let kids wait outside for their parents anymore but i think you're probably right, and he's just another fantasist.

Also, ithe reason it doesn't make the news (as if an incident like this would make London Tonight?) is because its small potatoes compared to 12-14 yr old kids slicing or shooting each other up on a seemingly daily basis.

The reaction of some people to this thread has been very strange indeed.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Hi DPF

I did catch your earlier post about a similar incident 3 months ago - thought I had referred to it. Maybe I'm not covering myself in glory as you say and if my responses are considered "very strange" then that's a shame

Asset posted the initial message and is someone on the forum I have a LOT of time for. And I think my initial response was one of shock/concern. So I'm not questioning the source or intentions at all

There aren't many ways to use words that don't come across as emotive on topics like this - or at least I can't seem to. If this person is still loose and ready to try again I am as concerned as anyone. And the news editors may consider it small potatoes compared to daily shootings - but then again has anyone reported it to them?

I should probably stop as I am probably digging myself in deeper - but am a bit unclear why

[snorky]

does seem odd to me - I would have expected some kind of Southwark/ POlice public response/ request for assistance ?

but again, its an emotive subject and as I have no knowledge of this indicdent on way or another, maybe its not right to speculate

[Ganapati]

Look, I just asked my husband who is a journo. He basically said no one will report this because it is sadly small potatoes. Seems like no one cares till something actually happens!

[Jeremy]

DPF - don't have a go at Sean! He's clearly just concerned that this incident hasn't received more media attention.

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

This is very scary stuff. A similar thing happened outside my daughter's school about a year ago when I was living in Elephant & Castle, and we were told by the police that attempts like this are not as rare as many people think, and the perpetrators are not always the ones who abuse kids, they are sometimes junkies or other people who get paid to snatch the kids for the organised abusers. This is about very sick criminals making huge amounts of money from the kinds of stuff Gary Glitter got caught downloading. I don't want to scare anyone, but this is often about money and organised crime. As a mother, this scares the crap out of me.

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

ChavWivaLawDegree Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> This is very scary stuff. A similar thing

> happened outside my daughter's school about a year

> ago when I was living in Elephant & Castle, and we

> were told by the police that attempts like this

> are not as rare as many people think, and the

> perpetrators are not always the ones who abuse

> kids, they are sometimes junkies or other people

> who get paid to snatch the kids for the organised

> abusers. This is about very sick criminals making

> huge amounts of money from the kinds of stuff Gary

> Glitter got caught downloading. I don't want to

> scare anyone, but this is often about money and

> organised crime. As a mother, this scares the

> crap out of me.

Do you really have a law degree?

[ChavWivaLawDegree]

DPF - Yes, why do you ask? I just finished Uni last month. Kind of proud of myself too.

[Mark]

Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy = your question to ChavWivaLawDegree is answered on this thread

[Brendan]

This makes me so angry! When I hear about people abusing kids it makes me want to get hold of the bugger and start punching until his screams give way to gurgles, and then silence. This would probably get me done for assault and I would have to go and talk to a psychologist about my unresolved anger issues. Just because I want my kids to be able to play out and annoy the neighbours like I did.

I don?t suppose anyone has heard if the police have followed this up?

[TillieTrotter]

Sorry to add fuel to fire, but in the baby shop in Herne Hill yesterday, I overheard that the police suspect the same person trying the same thing on the same day in Beckenham!!

You dont need a psychologist Brendan, or if you do I need to come with you!

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

Brendan Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> This makes me so angry! When I hear about people

> abusing kids it makes me want to get hold of the

> bugger and start punching until his screams give

> way to gurgles, and then silence. This would

> probably get me done for assault and I would have

> to go and talk to a psychologist about my

> unresolved anger issues. Just because I want my

> kids to be able to play out and annoy the

> neighbours like I did.

>

> I don?t suppose anyone has heard if the police

> have followed this up?

See, I reserve my anger more for idiots who drive too fast on residential streets, or use their mobiles whilst driving. They're a much bigger risk to my kids than the "bogeyman" figure.

[TillieTrotter]

You have a point DPF but you cant really compare reckless/mindless behaviour to the cold blooded intention of raping/harming kids can you??

[Dulwich_ Park_ Fairy]

TillieTrotter Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> You have a point DPF but you cant really compare

> reckless/mindless behaviour to the cold blooded

> intention of raping/harming kids can you??

I can actually, for me the comparism would be between arrogant, selfish behaviour and mentally ill behaviour.

[betty123]

I have heard of a similar incident on Wednesday involving a girl from Rosendale school . . am 100% confident this happened (although don't know detail). Am also curious why no media coverage, and why aren't all local schools sending home letters? I thought there would be a way of disseminating this kind of information fast.

[*Bob*]

However..

People who have harmful intent towards children are sick (ie ILL and need treatment as well as locking-up).

People who eg drive like cocks are perfectly well but still seem to think it's just fine.

So in fact, one needs treatment and the other needs a slap.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I have to agree DPF - bad motorists are very real threats to children and adults alike but just seem to be shrugged off

The phrase "bogeyman" is more controversial. There is no denying that there are SOME people out there with very warped ideas whereas a bogeyman is traditionally fictional.

But it is very easy when dealing with incidents such as this for whispers and rumours to spiral out of control (witness the riots in Portsmouth and elsewhere a few years back)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/872436.stm

I was, in my unsuccesful way, trying to say on this thread that we should be careful about fanning this thing with whispers and rumours. If this person is as active as we are led to believe then surely we can have someone on here who has more direct connection with events? (and that's me saying please do post on here - I'm not saying the events were made up)