Teenager Robbed By Gang With Fake Gun

Police have written to parents of Ringwood secondary school pupils after a robbery in a Ringwood park.

It's a 15-year-old boy told police he was threatened with a weapon  - thought to be a fake gun - before being robbed of his iPhone 4.

It happened at Carvers Recreation Ground between 8 and 8.30pm Saturday, October 13.
 
New Forest North Inspector Simon Tribe said:
 
“While this is a serious matter, I want to reassure you that this is an extremely rare incident in this area, and that this remains a safe community in which to live.”

He added that uniform officers and detectives are working to resolve the situation and bring offenders to justice.
 
Insp Tribe asked parents to help police in four areas:  
 
* Know where their children are and with whom
 
* Ensure children do not flaunt valuable items such as phones and iPods
 
* Reinforce the message to avoid alcohol and cannabis because they are illegal and make children vulnerable
 
* Reinforce the message that replica firearms or BB guns can be mistaken for real guns, bringing armed police to a reported incident
 
He also appealed for anyone with information about the incident to contact Lyndhurst CID via the 101 number.
 
Police are looking for three white youths, all aged about 20.  One was 5ft 10ins tall and wore a black hoodie and track suit trousers.  The second was 6ft tall and wore a grey hoodie and diamond-like studs in both ears.  The third was about 6ft tall.