Keep your children close!

[eyeshade]

I have heard recently but cannot say where, that in an M&S store, a mother reported a lost child. It is M&S's policy (alledgedly) that when this happens they have a lock down, i.e. nobody goes out or comes in to the store. When this happened, they found two foreign women in the toilets cutting and dying the little girls hair. Top marks for M&S but how awful for this to have possibly been another missing child. Keep your children close at all times!

[daffy654]

Sounds like an urban myth to me.I have heard the same story a few years ago but applied to a child in walmart in the US.

[eyeshade]

well I can tell you it isn't myth, sorry.

[redcrx]

sorry, Id say urban myth. otherwise this would be all over the news. Why cant you say where?

Still, if it makes parents who dont keep an eye on their kids think a bit more then theres no harm.

But generally parents do watch their children when out shopping dont they?

[lovenut]

o my god where was that reported?!

Thats sick the authorities should send em packing out of this country

[4getmenot]

sorry just checking my post comes up as cant post on other questions

[andrea81]

If true, very worrying!

Is there a reason you can't say where?

[netibiza]

Yes this is the same old urban myth, it "happened" here 10yrs ago and it was 2 Romanian women and they had cut the child's hair, it didn't happen!

[annie0000]

I have heard the same story relating to a shopping centre. Not saying it hasn't happened, but regardless, it does no harm to remind people to be vigilant at all times.

[netibiza]

It "happened" here at SYP supermarket on the Sta Eulalia - Ibiza road, but it didn't.

[annie0000]

In the story I heard it was a little boy and two men that had him.

[pink-kittens]

You were in the store when it happened? You saw the distessed little girl? It was in the national papers? Or did you hear it form a mate who was there? Or was it from a friend who's mate was there?

Urban myth expanded to suit todays society
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/parental/kidnap. asp
Even includes the lock down which I can assure you is not M&S policy

[PatriciaH]

When my daughter was 3yrs old we were out shopping in a shopping precinct , we had just come out of a shop and i was putting my things into one carrier bag which took about 10 seconds ,next thing shed gone ! i was 8 months pregnant and panicked beyond belief,,, the little monkey had gone back into the shop we had just left and gone around to the other side of the counter ! the lady in the shop must of thought i was demented with me shouting my daughters name , the lady brought her to me in a flash, after that scare my daughter went to wearing reins when out shopping ... all it can take is seconds....

[lorri24601]

i have heard many versions of this, childs hair shaved, girl dressed in boys clothes, hair dyed, it has been doing the rounds in different format for a good few years.

[pink-kittens]

HOWEVER, these types if emails, whilst they are urban myths it *could* happen - not the hair dying, but the abduction bit.

It doesn't hurt to keep an extra special eye on your children

[andrea81]

I keep getting these stories sent to me, I always check them up with a bit of google and usually find another version (usually america)

The needle in the McDonalds ball pool story was the last!

I suppose they have their place in making beople vigilant. And I expect some can be true!

[PatriciaH]

I think the "lock down " sounds great BTW

[eyeshade]

We have all heard the myths, legends, stories, etc. bla bla. However these crimes are all reinacted now and again because people think they can get away with it. We know it happens, so the warning is to take care.

[mccfluff]

just spoke to my friend who works at M&S and she doesn't know of a lock down policy - doesn't mean it doesn't exist but this does sound like myth to me. still keeping yours kids close is never a bad idea x