Upper Hutt boy from Trentham School runs away from potential abductor thanks to password system

NZ Herald

4 Apr, 2017 09:57 PM4 mins to read

The Trentham School boy was approached by a man in a black car. Photo / Google Maps

An Upper Hutt child escaped a possible abduction attempt because a stranger did not know the password his mother used when sending people to pick him up from school.

The Trentham School boy was approached by a man in a black car on Monday afternoon who told him: "I need to take you home."

The incident is one of three recent instances where children were approached by strangers in Upper Hutt, though one of those was not found to have any criminal intent.

The 10-year-old was in front of the Upper Hutt College courts on Moonshine Rd about 3.15pm on Monday when the man approached him.

"A black car approached him and a man in the car said to him something along the lines of 'I need to take you home', " principal Suzanne Su'a said.

"This child asked the man for the password and, of course, the man didn't know it, so the child ran home.

"Unfortunately, he didn't inform Mum, who was at home, mainly because he was worried about upsetting Mum."

After lunch on Tuesday, the boy was worried about walking home, so told his teacher what happened.

The school will have more staff out, and are reminding parents to speak to their children about safety.

"We're just reminding our parents to talk to their child about what they need to do to keep themselves safe if they ever get into this situation."

Su'a said the boy "did really well".

"He was pretty brave."

She only wished he'd told his mother as soon as possible about the approach, "because then the police could have been notified and the perpetrator could have still been in the vicinity, and the likelihood of actually nabbing him could have increased".

Su'a said another Upper Hutt school last week reported a similar approach.

The password system involves parents giving their child a password that another person picking up the child has to say so he or she knows it is safe to go with them.

Detective Senior Sergeant Mike Sears said police were aware of three incidents in Upper Hutt where children have been approached by an unknown man in the past month.

"Police take any report of this type extremely seriously and continue to investigate two of these incidents," Sears said.

"In an incident that occurred on March 13 on Fergusson Drive, the person involved has been identified and police have established there was no criminal element involved. All parties have been spoken to and advised of the outcome."

A further incident occurred outside Upper Hutt Primary School on March 28 where a child was approached.

Sears said specialist interviews have been conducted with the child, and police are currently reviewing the information.

"Police are following positive lines of inquiry," he said.

"Police are conducting interviews and enquiries in relation to a third incident that occurred yesterday in Trentham near a local primary school where a student was approached and spoken to by an unknown male.

"Police are reviewing evidence and at this stage cannot confirm if there is a link between any of the incidents.

"Patrols have been increased in the area and the schools and families involved are being spoken to and we are working closely to support them.

"Police remind the public to contact them immediately should they see anything suspicious."