This is Sussex -- POLICE have revealed that they are stepping up patrols in Tilgate - after a schoolgirl was followed home from school by a stranger last week. PC Christopher Pearce, Sussex Police's schools officer, has been in contact with The Oaks Primary as officers continue to investigate the incident. And Crawley Police's Inspector Zahid Khan has revealed everything possible is being done to trace the man, who shouted out to the 10-year-old girl and then followed her home. He said: "The girl did the right thing by telling her mum what happened, so we could send officers out as soon as possible. "This is an isolated incident in Crawley and we have no [other] reports recently of this happening. "The neighbourhood police team [in Tilgate] are aware and will be stepping up patrols in the area." Parents and children have been urged to be extra vigilant after the young girl was approached. She had left the school, in Loppets Road, Tilgate, and was walking along Garrick Walk when a man came out of the St Bernadette Church car park and called out to her. At this point she ran off scared, but believes the man followed her the rest of the way home. The stranger did not try to grab the girl or speak to her again; but parents are being warned to be vigilant after the incident last Tuesday. The girl immediately told her mum what had happened when she got home, and her mum called the police at 3.55pm. Because she only saw him briefly before running off, the schoolgirl was only able to give a very brief description of the man. She told the police that he was wearing a grey hooded top and had brown hair. Officers searched the area but could not find anyone matching the description. The school sent a letter to all parents informing them of the incident and asking them to remind children of the importance of staying safe at all times. Dave Stevens, from Hawkins Road, in Tilgate, whose daughter goes to the school, was impressed with how the incident has been dealt with. He said: "As a parent you don't even want to think this could happen on your own doorstep. "It is a parent's nightmare but it is apparent that it does go on out there. I think all parents are feeling wary. "The school acted on the report really quickly. Everyone was on top of it. "We always walk our daughter home from school and there is a close-knit community between all the mums and dads. "We look out for one another. If anyone we do not recognise is seen by the school it is reported." Gemma Griggs, from Dickens Road in Tilgate, who has two children at the school, added that the incident had put every parent on edge. She said: "I spoke to my children and reminded them not to speak to or go off with any strangers. "It was worrying for all of us." The mother of the schoolgirl who was approached contacted the Crawley News and said that although her daughter was OK she wants as many people as possible to be aware of the incident. The woman, who did not want to be identified, said: "My daughter has only recently started walking part of the way home herself and I talk to her the whole way on the phone. "On that day I could not get hold of her because she was running away [from the man]." In the letter to parents the school's head teacher Penny Forbes said: "We will be reminding the children at school about keeping safe, could you also please reinforce this by talking to them at home."
Reported by This is 3 days ago.
This is Sussex -- POLICE have revealed that they are stepping up patrols in Tilgate - after a schoolgirl was followed home from school by a stranger last week. PC Christopher Pearce, Sussex Police's schools officer, has been in contact with The Oaks Primary as officers continue to investigate the incident. And Crawley Police's Inspector Zahid Khan has revealed everything possible is being done to trace the man, who shouted out to the 10-year-old girl and then followed her home. He said: "The girl did the right thing by telling her mum what happened, so we could send officers out as soon as possible. "This is an isolated incident in Crawley and we have no [other] reports recently of this happening. "The neighbourhood police team [in Tilgate] are aware and will be stepping up patrols in the area." Parents and children have been urged to be extra vigilant after the young girl was approached. She had left the school, in Loppets Road, Tilgate, and was walking along Garrick Walk when a man came out of the St Bernadette Church car park and called out to her. At this point she ran off scared, but believes the man followed her the rest of the way home. The stranger did not try to grab the girl or speak to her again; but parents are being warned to be vigilant after the incident last Tuesday. The girl immediately told her mum what had happened when she got home, and her mum called the police at 3.55pm. Because she only saw him briefly before running off, the schoolgirl was only able to give a very brief description of the man. She told the police that he was wearing a grey hooded top and had brown hair. Officers searched the area but could not find anyone matching the description. The school sent a letter to all parents informing them of the incident and asking them to remind children of the importance of staying safe at all times. Dave Stevens, from Hawkins Road, in Tilgate, whose daughter goes to the school, was impressed with how the incident has been dealt with. He said: "As a parent you don't even want to think this could happen on your own doorstep. "It is a parent's nightmare but it is apparent that it does go on out there. I think all parents are feeling wary. "The school acted on the report really quickly. Everyone was on top of it. "We always walk our daughter home from school and there is a close-knit community between all the mums and dads. "We look out for one another. If anyone we do not recognise is seen by the school it is reported." Gemma Griggs, from Dickens Road in Tilgate, who has two children at the school, added that the incident had put every parent on edge. She said: "I spoke to my children and reminded them not to speak to or go off with any strangers. "It was worrying for all of us." The mother of the schoolgirl who was approached contacted the Crawley News and said that although her daughter was OK she wants as many people as possible to be aware of the incident. The woman, who did not want to be identified, said: "My daughter has only recently started walking part of the way home herself and I talk to her the whole way on the phone. "On that day I could not get hold of her because she was running away [from the man]." In the letter to parents the school's head teacher Penny Forbes said: "We will be reminding the children at school about keeping safe, could you also please reinforce this by talking to them at home."
Reported by This is 3 days ago.