Croydon kebab shop offering ‘safe space’ for children following attempted abductions

A Croydon kebab shop proprietor has vowed to supply her premises as a secure area for children following a collection of attempted abductions within the space.

Over the final week, close by Bromley has seen 4 attempted baby abductions, resulting in elevated police patrols in South London.

Tijen Mevlit, 46, has run Fingers Kebab in New Addington for 37 years and her shop has been a refuge for children for a long time.

She instructed My London: “I’ve at all times supplied the shop as a secure area for children. The complete space is aware of me anyway. I do know all the carers. We’re like a giant household right here.”

On April 30, two younger boys, aged eight and 11, had been the victims of attempted abductions inside 500 metres of one another in Beckenham.

One boy, 11, was chased on foot by two hooded males and one other in a automobile on Whitmore Road on his approach residence from faculty.

In a second abduction try on the identical afternoon, an 8-year-old boy was approached by a hooded man sporting a masks in a wooded space of Kelsey Park.

Fingers Kebab in New Addington has been a refuge for children for a long time

Two miles away, in West Wickham on May 5, a male scholar was adopted residence by The Mead by a person on a motorbike.

A fourth abduction was reported on May 4. Two males had been stated to have been strolling behind a four-year-old lady in The Glades buying centre and made an try and seize the lady’s arm earlier than strolling off.

All the children had been unhurt and obtained residence safely.

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Tijen instructed My London there may be “plenty of concern” locally following the attempted abductions.

“Parents are extra cautious,” she stated. “They’re selecting their children up from faculty and dropping them off themselves.”

Writing on Facebook, fellow kebab shop employees member Leyla Nart supplied Fingers Kebab as a secure area for native children eager to ring their mother and father.

She stated: “We’re conscious that this situation has turn out to be much more prevalent in the previous couple of months and urge completely anyone who feels unsafe to make use of our shop as a spot of safety.”

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Tijen instructed My London she has had dozens of messages from residents expressing their gratitude and is assured the shop could be a secure haven for children.

There’s no approach on the earth anybody’s gonna get previous me and do something to our youngsters,” she stated. “I’m fairly a strong-willed particular person so it’s not gonna occur.

“Everyone protects one another right here, however I would like the youngsters to know they’ve a base the place they’ll ring their mum.

“It’s nice for mother and father to know their children can at all times run to somebody.”

Superintendent Andy Brittain, of the Met’s South Area Command, has reassured the general public that the police are investigating the incidents completely.

He stated: “I’d encourage the general public to stay vigilant, however to not be unduly alarmed. Child kidnappings or abductions are, fortunately, extremely uncommon, however we’re not complacent.

“In order to supply reassurance to the group we now have heightened our seen presence in areas the place kids might collect and I urge anybody who feels frightened or involved to strategy my officers.

“In addition, please be assured that if we now have purpose to consider that there’s a particular hazard we are going to guarantee that our communities are totally conscious instantly.”

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