17 March 2011

Kidnapping in Downer?

17 March 2011 | By johnboy

ACT Policing is investigating a reported abduction and assault of a 14-year-old girl yesterday (Wednesday, 16 March) morning in Downer.

The girl was walking along Cowan Street, Downer around 7.30am when she was approached by a man, who at the time was wearing a dark coloured “hoodie”.

It is alleged that the girl was assaulted and placed in the boot of a white vehicle. The girl later woke up in a Watson park along Piddington Street.

Police are urging anyone who was in the area of Cowan Street, Downer around 7.30am or Piddington Street, Watson and may have witnessed the incident or a suspicious white vehicle to contact police.

Information can be provided via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.act.crimestoppers.com.au anonymously.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

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dundle1:53 pm 18 Mar 11

bd84 said :

Why was a 14 year old wandering around at 7.30am on a Wednesday morning, there’s no indication that the girl was going to school. At 7.30am it is daylight, it would be rather brazen to be going around abducting people in daylight, especially in Canberra. Something tells me the girl got caught sneaking out and to save getting in trouble from mum and dad, made up a story which has now blown up into a major incident. Time will tell I guess..

I don’t know, I used to leave my house at about 7.45 to go to school, and I was lazy and only just got to school on time (it was quite far away). 7.30 is plausible for an early riser or with an early school start (we had those sometimes for music or science coaching). They probably don’t give any more information because it would invade her privacy even more and it’s not relevant to the media release. Your theory could be right but she’d have to be a pretty dumb 14 year old to think nobody would investigate a made-up kidnapping, that’s a pretty brazen lie. Especially because of the timeline, if she’d been out all night or something why would she tell her parents she was wandering around at 7.30? Presumably that sort of cover story, if made up, would still get her into trouble.

KB19711:51 pm 18 Mar 11

NM78 said :

She was on her way to the bus stop to catch the bus to school and never made it!!

I have to agree with this in answer to the the previous question. We have kids turn up at our bus stop for a 7.30 school bus.

NM7812:56 pm 18 Mar 11

This 14yo girl and her family are currently going throught hell and back! I think the issue is to try and find the barstards to did this to her before they do this to another innocent victim. She was on her way to the bus stop to catch the bus to school and never made it!!

Erg09:55 am 18 Mar 11

I definitely got the same impression as JB – the reference to a “reported” abduction and assault was what did it, I think. Might just be my suspicious mind, time will tell, I suppose.

Walker9:55 am 18 Mar 11

Adziv I nearly fell off my chair when I saw your post. That was me driving a fairlane. (Borrowed, no less).

I thought to and ask the cops what was going on, about to get out, then changed my mind thinking stuff it I’m tired and they look real busy. So your observation is a reasonable one, it was somewhat indeterminate driving, in a car that’s rarely in that area.

As for daylight crime, it is very possible, sad to say.

bigfeet6:38 am 18 Mar 11

Adzyv said :

So we can assume you have taken your piece of information to the police and not just posted it here?

Adzyv12:17 am 18 Mar 11

Jethro said :

Adzyv said :

May not be related but around 10:30-11:00 last night the 16th ( around the same time police were on the scene I was on my way home into Watson and saw a white EF/EL Ford Falcon station wagon driving suspiciously around the area.

How does one driver suspiciously?

Well the car I saw turned it’s lights off at one stage, was also driving fairly erratic… If you ask me that’s pretty suspicious. But that’s not the point… The point is the community needs to help find this man instead of bickering senselessly

bd8411:23 pm 17 Mar 11

LSWCHP said :

johnboy said :

Reading between the lines one might think the police are somewhat sceptical.

Ummm…I don’t see that JB. Apart from the “It is alleged…”, which is reasonable phrasing because it’s not proven, it all looks pretty straighforward to me.

While the use of alleged is normal, some of the other language used in the release does indicate a level of scepticism.

Why was a 14 year old wandering around at 7.30am on a Wednesday morning, there’s no indication that the girl was going to school. At 7.30am it is daylight, it would be rather brazen to be going around abducting people in daylight, especially in Canberra. Something tells me the girl got caught sneaking out and to save getting in trouble from mum and dad, made up a story which has now blown up into a major incident. Time will tell I guess..

user_unknown10:28 pm 17 Mar 11

The one thing I remember from Journalism (in the one year I studied it before I came to my senses) is you can’t say someone was accused of doing something when writing an article. Pretty much have to say alleged all the time (even if someone has been charged for what is being “alleged” about them!) More so when only the investigation is occurring.

Either way, it’s a horrible thing to happen.

Aeek10:03 pm 17 Mar 11

if true, she’s alive and unaware – that’s great