Qld: Intruder abducts sleeping girl

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2003
Qld: Intruder abducts sleeping girl

By Alex Murdoch

BRISBANE, April 19 AAP - An eight-year-old girl was abducted from a North Queensland
home and later released, police said today.

An intruder wearing a balaclava broke into the sleeping girl's bedroom last night and
took the child to his car before driving away.

He later returned her to within 400 metres of her home in the coastal city of Thuringowa
before releasing her.

Regional Crime Coordinator Detective Inspector Richard Nikola said the intruder removed
a screen from the girl's bedroom window in Norwich Street, Kirwan, between 9pm and 9.30pm
(AEST) yesterday.

Although the man did not sexually or physically assault the girl, he may have committed
obscene acts in her presence, Insp Nikola said.

He said the girl's parents had been watching the Brisbane Broncos game on television
when the abduction occurred, but her mother had gone to check on the sleeping girl at
half-time.

"She discovered her missing and of course the panic set in," Insp Nikola said.

After being released, the girl ran back to her house and told her parents about her abduction.

"Although she was not sexually assaulted, she has been severely traumatised by the
incident," Insp Nikola said.

Her abductor was described as about 178cm tall and wore a black balaclava and black T-shirt.

He had a distinctive "squeaky" voice.

The man was driving a white station wagon, with black strips down its sides.

Insp Nikola said the girl's family had only recently moved to the area and were still
settling in.

"They didn't know many people yet and had few visitors," he said.

Insp Nikola vowed to catch the man responsible quickly, but warned families to keep
their doors and windows locked and to be vigilant about child protection.

"I can assure Townsville residents that the police are taking this threat very seriously
and a large task force has already been set up to track this sexual predator down," he
said.

Insp Nikola said police had also increased patrols and were on the lookout for anything
suspicious.

Anyone with information about the incident, including a sighting of the car in the
Thuringowa area, should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

AAP am/br

KEYWORD: ABDUCTION

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