PARENTS ON HIGH ALERT!

CONCERNED parents remained on high alert in several areas of north Antrim this week after a report of a man getting out of a car and chasing an eight-year-old girl in Ballybogey.

Police said yesterday (Monday) they are investigating a ‘suspicious’ approach at Millview Park after 9pm on Thursday June 10 when a man reportedly got out of a car and pursued the child.

As rumours of the incident spread there were reports of a number of concerned parents gathering in villages, on the alert, for a suspected ‘prowler’.

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On Friday in the Ballybogey area a number of mums and dads refused to let their children walk home from school and there were unconfirmed reports of a police vehicle parked outside a primary school.

The man involved in the reported Ballybogey incident was in his late 30s or early 40s and had ginger hair and freckles, said police, who added that the car was driven by a woman who had a pony tail.

After the girl ran off unharmed, the report received by police was that the car drove off at speed towards Ballindreen Road.

Whether there was anything sinister in the reports was still unclear yesterday (Monday) but it was clear that the reaction of a number of parents in villages in and close to Ballybogey showed there was huge concern in the community.

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A father-of-two young children from Ballybogey said the incident had caused widespread fear in the village.

"Everyone is talking about it and I myself am quite shaken up," said the man on Friday.

"My kids usually walk home from school but I picked them up today as did a lot of other parents."

A well-placed source said: “In one local village a number of people gathered after the news came that something had happened in Ballybogey. Parents were on the alert and a number of people were standing in public to keep an eye out for any strange vehicle coming along.”

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Another parent said: “Children are precious and I can understand the concerns of people but I would appeal for calm. Speaking generally police have to treat approaches as ‘suspicious’ until they can establish if there is or is not anything sinister in the reports but it could turn out to be the case that there is a non-sinister reason.

“What we would not want is some innocent person fitting a description wrongly being set upon by a crowd. We need to be alert but sensible at the same time and not over react,” said the parent.

Police are appealing for public assistance and anyone who was in the Ballybogey area and can help identify the occupants of the car is asked to contact police on 08456008000.

Alternatively, information can be given anonymously to the Crimestoppers charity on 0800555111.

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