Police are investigating after a man allegedly followed a schoolgirl while she was walking home from school and tried to steal her mobile phone.
Officers from Cleveland Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward, as they investigate the attempted robbery, which happened on Monday (February 5).
The incident happened at about 3.50pm as the 11-year-old girl was on Durham Road in Stockton, just after the Darlington Lane junction and near St Gregory’s Primary School.
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Police believe the suspect may have followed the girl from Bishopton Avenue onto Durham Road and targeted her when he realised she had a mobile phone.
The suspect is said to have come up close behind her and moved as if to strike her and take her phone before she managed to block him and run up Durham Road, towards the University Hospital of North Tees.
A spokesperson for Cleveland Police added: "We would appeal for anyone who saw a young girl being followed or the incident itself or who may have captured anything on dashcam to contact Cleveland Police on the 101 number, quoting ref 021484."
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