Thanet police investigate suspected kidnapping attempts after woman and girls targeted in Margate and Ramsgate
16:44, 23 August 2019
updated: 18:02, 23 August 2019
Police patrols have been stepped up after a string of suspected kidnapping attempts in which women and teenage girls were targeted.
A teenage girl was allegedly grabbed by three men in Margate - one of four suspicious incidents to be investigated in the district by police this month.
In three of the four incidents, the victims reported seeing men who spoke with foreign accents travelling in a brown car.
Officers are now looking into other similar incidents which have been reported across Thanet in August.
A mum has warned fellow parents after seeing her teenage daughter almost being snatched in broad daylight in Cecil Square last Tuesday.
The youngster started screaming at them and the car the men were travelling in sped off when her mother jumped out of her car.
In a warning on social media, Kirstie McCann said: "Luckily I was literally just behind him going to pick her up.
"I was trying to jump out the car without crashing it at my four-year-old was also in the car with me.
"I got a description of the men, colour and make of the car but couldn’t get the reg. I wished I would have done that now but at least the description of the men then someone might have seen them."
'Officers are carrying out patrols and enquiries in the affected areas and people are asked to pay extra attention regarding their own safety'
The car has been described as a brown Citroen with the driver wearing a checked shirt, front passenger wearing a black T-shirt and the third person in the back was wearing a plain white T-shirt.
Ms McCann added: "Scary place this world is now."
A police spokesman confirmed they are investigating the report which is said to have taken place at 5.43pm on Tuesday, August 13.
Another incident was reported to police this week after a man approached a girl in Park Avenue in Birchington at 10pm on Tuesday.
"It is reported a vehicle pulled up alongside a 16-year-old girl," a police spokesman said. "A man got out of the car and the girl ran away."
The following day a woman called police reporting a woman had been grabbed by a man in a car.
She was able to free herself and run away after being approached in an alley between Manston Road and Helvellyn Avenue in Ramsgate between 7.45pm and 8pm on Wednesday.
Earlier this month, it was reported a girl was approached by two men in a white car on Manston Road in Ramsgate.
The girl reportedly checked her phone when the car stopped beside her and rolled the window down before the driver stared at her and nodded towards the back seat where another man was sitting.
A police spokesman confirmed the report was made at 12.35pm on August 6 and launched an investigation.
They added: "It was reported that a teenage girl was walking on the pavement when a vehicle stopped beside her and the driver looked in her direction.
"No offences were reported but initial enquiries into the incident are underway."
Police have issued a warning and safety advice to women and girls out walking.
"Officers are carrying out patrols and enquiries in the affected areas and people are asked to pay extra attention regarding their own safety, such as avoid walking alone and ensure you choose well-lit roads," the spokesman added.
"Always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you and avoid distractions such as looking at your mobile phone or listening to music on headphones."
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 01843 222289. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org
