**Police Investigate After Man Allegedly Urges Young Boy to ‘Get In’ Van in Wrexham**
An investigation has been launched by North Wales Police following reports that a man in a black van attempted to entice an 11-year-old boy near a village Co-op store in Rossett, Wrexham. According to those involved, the incident left the young boy shaken and prompted urgent warnings from local residents and community authorities.
The unsettling occurrence took place on Sunday afternoon, when the boy, whose family prefer to maintain their anonymity, was running an errand at the Co-op. As he went to retrieve his bicycle from the racks situated between the store and a neighbouring pharmacy, the boy reportedly noticed a black van parked nearby with a man inside. The boy’s mother recounted that the man rolled down his window and called out to the child, allegedly saying: “Get in the van, I will take you home.”
Recounting the ordeal, her son quickly remembered parental advice about never speaking to strangers. He chose not to respond to the man and immediately cycled away along the nearby path. However, his relief turned to renewed fear when he glanced back and realised the black van appeared to be following him. Thinking on his feet, the boy diverted towards Darland School, where he swiftly turned down a narrow alleyway—an area impossible for a van to follow. At this point, he reported that he managed to lose sight of the vehicle.
His mother described how the incident had deeply affected her son, leaving him shocked and frightened. “He was so brave and did as I told him, but this has really scared him,” she said, adding that her son has been reluctant to venture outside on his own since the incident. She also voiced concerns for general community safety, highlighting the necessity of continual conversations with children about the importance of not engaging with strangers or accepting lifts from unknown adults.
In a detail that has heightened worries among parents in the area, the mother mentioned a separate, worrisome incident that occurred just two days earlier at Gresford duck pond, bolstering local fears that these are not isolated occurrences. “It’s vital that families discuss what to do if approached by someone they don’t know,” she commented.
The suspect in question was described by the boy as a white male, between the ages of 35 and 40, with brown, greying shoulder-length hair. Police are actively searching for this individual and have appealed for anyone who might have witnessed suspicious activity around the Co-op on Chester Road or who may have relevant dashcam or CCTV footage to come forward.
A North Wales Police spokesperson confirmed: “We received a report shortly before 4pm on Sunday, June 8th, concerning suspected suspicious behaviour involving a black van in the area of Chester Road, Rossett. Enquiries are ongoing to identify and locate the man involved.”
Police are urging anyone present near the Co-Op between 3pm and 4pm on the day in question who might have noticed a black Ford van, or who may possess pertinent footage or information, to contact them either via their website or by calling 101, quoting reference C084506.
Incidents like this serve as a stark reminder of the need for community vigilance and the importance of clear guidance for young people when it comes to personal safety. Local authorities, meanwhile, continue to reassure residents that the matter is being treated with the utmost seriousness and encourage anyone with concerns to seek advice or support.
Updates will follow as police investigations proceed and more information becomes available. In the interim, families in the Wrexham area are being urged to maintain open dialogue and routinely discuss safety precautions relevant to children’s independence and wellbeing.