Officers in Gosport are investigating a number of reports of suspicious incidents in the town.
Enquiries are ongoing to see if any of the reports are linked, however the descriptions of the people believed to be involved vary dramatically.
In the most recent case on Thursday, May 19, at around 5pm a man was reported to be acting suspiciously on the cycle track close to Toronto Place. A 28 year-old woman was walking with her 4 year-old daughter. A man came out of the bushes and reached out his arm towards the girl before running off. No contact was made and nothing was said.
Earlier in the week, on Sunday, May 15, a 9 year-old girl reported that a man riding a mountain bike spoke to her briefly in the Kings Road area. No contact was made, she was not hurt and she ran home.
Members of the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) have also been patrolling Alverstoke in recent weeks following reports of a man acting suspiciously in the Green Lane, Bay Road, and Anglesey Road areas. No criminal offences have been identified in relation to these reports.
In addition a man was reported to be exposing himself in the Stanley Park area by a number of teenagers on Wednesday, May 11. Enquires are ongoing to establish whether this offence is linked to the other reports received.
Officers have identified a number of individuals who they will be continuing to speak to as part of their enquiries.
Inspector Mark Hull said: “I’m pleased that people are reporting incidents of suspicious behaviour to us. We have already identified that some of these reports are based on gossip and rumour and in many cases there could be a perfectly innocent explanation where no criminal activity is involved.
“The varying descriptions given to us of the people that could have been involved suggest that not all of these reports are linked, and with lighter evenings it may be that areas such as the town’s many cycle tracks are used more frequently by people who may spot something unusual.
“I would like to take this opportunity to remind people to report any suspicious incidents as quickly as possible by calling 101 or 999 in an emergency”.
