Incidents at international schools were not kidnapping attempts: Police

The Tanglin Trust School on Portsdown Road. (PHOTO: Google Street View screengrab)
The Tanglin Trust School on Portsdown Road. (PHOTO: Google Street View screengrab)

Both cases of alleged attempted kidnapping at two international schools have turned out to be “misunderstandings” following thorough investigations, said the police in a press statement issued on Thursday (18 January).

“The police have established that these two unrelated reports were not cases of attempted kidnapping. In both cases, the occupants of the vehicles were trying to be helpful by offering a lift to the students,” it added.

The first incident took place last Thursday and involved a male driver who offered a ride to a student from United World College of South East Asia as it was raining that day. According to a police Facebook post on Wednesday, investigations found that the man had no ill intent and the child’s parents were subsequently updated on the matter.

In the second case on Tuesday, a female bus attendant on a school bus from Tanglin Trust School offered a ride to a student wearing a Tanglin Trust School uniform whom she saw walking towards the school.

The attendant’s school bus, however, did not bear the name or logo of the school. The student had declined the offer as she had earlier read a school circular advising them to be wary of strangers offering rides to students.


Separately, the police has engaged Dulwich College about making a police report concerning an incident last month that involved one of its students, so that the matter can be investigated.

“The police treat such reports seriously. However, we urge members of the public not to speculate or spread unsubstantiated information which may generate unnecessary public alarm,” the statement added.

Related story:

Two schools issue alerts to parents after students approached by strangers