Police warning after stranger tries to entice girls into car

A SUSPECTED prowler has tried to entice two girls and one woman into his car in three separate incidents, leading police to warn people to be on their guard.

Three attempts in the past month in Stirling are being linked to the same man, police said. He first struck in Springfield Road, Alloa, on 22 June, at 1pm. He stopped the intended victim, a 17-year-old girl, and started talking to her. He encouraged her to get into the car and when she refused he drove off.

In another incident he grabbed at a 39-year-old woman in Loanhead Avenue, in Grangemouth, on 14 July, after stopping and chatting with her.

She was walking her dog at the time and as she struggled to get away the dog bit the man, allowing her to escape.

In the latest incident he approached a 13-year-old girl who was with friends of the same age in Stirling Street, Alva, on Monday, at 5:30pm.

Detective Inspector David Mitchell, of Central Scotland Police, said: "In all instances the car was grey or silver with four doors. The driver was described as being in his forties or fifties, with short dark hair. We believe these three instances are linked and we are doing everything we can to trace this person.

"In these cases the women did the right thing in refusing to get into the car.

"During the second incident we believe the man may have been bitten by a dog. An injury like this may be quite visible and appeal for anyone with information to contact us.

"I also appeal for anyone who may have seen a silver or grey car in these areas around these particular times to come forward."

The incident follows a terrifying knife-point abduction of a 14-year-old girl on her way to the nearby Dollar Academy, one of Scotland's top independent schools, by a paedophile who marched his victim for 200 yards past parents and other pupils to his car, before driving her eight miles to a remote spot where he sexually assaulted her.

Police are not linking the latest incidents to the sex attack.

They are carrying out door-to-door inquiries and studying CCTV from all three areas where the suspected prowler struck, and have spoken to witnesses from Grangemouth who saw the man talking to the woman. They do not know the make or model of the car he was driving.

A spokeswoman for Central Police said: "We would always advise people to be aware of your surroundings and be aware of who is near you. These women have definitely done the right thing in not getting into the car.

"If you are approached and are unsure, apply common sense and walk away from the car in the opposite direction to the way it is travelling."

Anyone with information, either about the man in the silver or grey car, or the Dollar sexual assault, should call Central Scotland Police on 01786 456000, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.