POLICE hunting a man they believe may have tried to abduct two Swindon children in the last month have been speaking to people where one of the incidents took place.
DS Adrian Davis and a team of officers stationed themselves in the alleyway from Victoria Road to Rolleston Street at lunchtime yesterday, where they questioned local people on whether they heard or saw anything in the area of the alleyway exactly a week earlier.
On September 8, a man tried to grab an 11-year old girl in the alleyway but the victim escaped after biting his arm.
A month earlier, at 1pm on August 7, a five-year-old girl playing with her pram and dolls in an alleyway off Groundwell Road was also approached by a mystery man.
The man grabbed the child's arm, but she too was able to shrug him off and ran home and raised the alarm.
Both children were said to be very frightened by their ordeal.
DS Davis said: "We still cannot confirm whether the two incidents are linked, but there are similarities. We have returned to the scene of the second incident today to try and jog people's memories.
"We haven't had any firm leads so far today, but it has helped us to establish what pedestrian traffic there would have been in the area at the time of the attack and people have been very helpful and have been showing real concern about the situation."
Posters featuring a photo-fit of the man have been put up around Swindon.
He is described as white, shaven-headed, skinny and is in his early 20s.
DS Davis said: "I have a team of four officers carrying out house-to-house enquiries in the area and we have a number of lines of enquiry which we will be following up in the immediate future."
He also reminded parents to keep a close eye on their children and to avoid letting them play unattended in isolated areas.
Police would like to hear from anyone who may have information on either of the two attempted abductions.
DS Davis and his team can be contacted on Swindon 528111. Those with information can also call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
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