Cleveland Police issue appeal after man in van grabs teenage girl's arm on Hartlepool family estate

By Mark Payne
Published 13th Oct 2023, 17:08 BST
Updated 16th Oct 2023, 11:40 BST
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Detectives in Hartlepool have issued an appeal after a teenage girl was grabbed by a man in a van in broad daylight.

The suspect opened the vehicle’s door and took hold of her arm at around 1.40pm on Thursday, October 12, before she managed to break away and run to safety.

Cleveland Police stated: “It happened directly opposite the entrance to the parade of shops at Middle Warren Local Centre, on Mulberry Rise, when a teenage girl was walking towards the Strawberry apartments.

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“A man opened the front passenger door of a van which was driving towards the roundabout with Merlin Way and Hart Road and took hold of the 16-year old’s arm before she ran to safety.

Police say the incident happened directly opposite the entrance to the Middle Warren Local Centre.Police say the incident happened directly opposite the entrance to the Middle Warren Local Centre.
Police say the incident happened directly opposite the entrance to the Middle Warren Local Centre.

“Officers are treating this as an isolated incident and the girl was physically unharmed.”

The man is described as white, in his 40s, with dark hair and beard and dressed in black clothing.

The van was said to be white with a yellow stripe on it.

Anyone with information or footage is asked to contact Hartlepool CID via the 101 number, quoting reference number 203671.