Boy 'grabbed' by man as detectives investigate double report of men acting suspiciously in Hartlepool

Hartlepool CID officers are appealing for information as they investigate reports of two suspicious incidents in recent days.

Cleveland Police has said the first is reported to have taken place on Sunday evening, September 13, around 8pm.

It involved two men in a silver vehicle speaking to two 11-year-old boys who had walked from Bruntoft Avenue to Lamberd Road, and asking them to get into the car.

One boy said one of the men tried to grab at him in Lamberd Road, but the boys ran away up King Oswy Drive and returned home shaken but physically unharmed.

The next day, on Monday, September 14, two 11-year-old girls reported a man in a silver car in the King Oswy area at around 8.30am, asking them to get into his car which they refused to do.

They arrived at school unharmed and informed an adult, who contacted police.

A spokesperson for the force said: “We are aware that parents and carers will feel concerned and would reassure them that several officers are in the area conducting inquiries and police are working hard to ascertain the circumstances around these reports.

“We would urge anyone with information or who saw the children or a silver car to contact Cleveland Police.”

Detective Constable Jodi Mallon, of Hartlepool CID, is also appealing for any witnesses in the streets listed in the appeal who may have seen the two boys or any witnesses to the incidents described.

People with private CCTV footage or vehicle dashcam footage from the area at the time are also being asked to check their cameras in the hope the video can help with the investigation.

Anyone with details about what happened or saw the silver car are asked contact Cleveland Police via the 101 number and quote the reference number 150364 or 150785.

Those who do not wish to speak to police can consider contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or phone it via 0800 555 111.

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