Shopping centre hits out at urban legend
FALSE rumours about a child being kidnapped in the city's Drake Circus mall have led its management to issue a statement reassuring shoppers.
The urban legend centres on the terrifying story of a young girl being abducted while in a large store, her hair cut and dyed and her clothes changed to disguise her as a boy, before she is then smuggled out of the premises past unsuspecting security guards and police.
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The Herald has also been contacted a number of times over the past few weeks regarding similar allegations, which pinpoint a number of major clothing stores within Drake Circus.
Now a spokesman for the mall has said it has also become aware of the "malicious and entirely untrue rumour".
"The rumour is a hoax and first started circulating via the internet in the wake of the disappearance of Madeline McCann," he said.
"It has been applied to numerous other public venues in the past. Accordingly, we would like to take this opportunity to reassure our valued visitors that the rumour has no basis in truth, and that our continuing efforts ensure that each and every visitor to the mall can enjoy a safe and pleasant shopping environment."
A police spokesman said there were no reports of a kidnap or an attempted kidnap at Drake Circus over the past few months.
The spokesman said: "As far as we are concerned these are spurious claims with no basis in fact."
19 Comments
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by d goode, plymouth
Tuesday, June 16 2009, 9:09PM
“I think it is very sick for people to say things like this ,aAnd scare parents from going into plymouth town centre,( !!! why??? ) grow up .”
by facebook user, plymouth
Thursday, June 04 2009, 11:53PM
“i have heard it too, a few friends of mine have put it on their facebook status's to 'warn' other parents.
i thought it was true at 1st until i checked for myself and couldnt find any truth in it. but alot of people on facebook believe it still.”
by z, Plymouth
Thursday, June 04 2009, 11:48PM
“I am from Malaysia and I heard this story from my friend. It's kind of rumours too in Malaysia. I don't think it's true because I never read it in our local newspaper. I believe it's a story created for parents so they will keep their eyes on their children when shopping.”
by Albert Dock, Drake ClownHouse
Thursday, June 04 2009, 10:51PM
“The story is a load of crap.
Unless it is you who is going to have your bits molested by the local security guard!!!
I have only been in the place twice.....I hate shopping and the shops are crap!!”
by Mike, Plymouth
Thursday, June 04 2009, 10:32PM
“As a parent of young children my advise, never drop your guard, but remember this type of crime is extremely rare, but when it happens it is tragic, keep things in perspective, but any loving parent should always keep a close watch on your kids.
My personal opinion regarding the Plymouth Mall, is that they have a very professional security team, but as with any large public place young children must be safe guarded by the parents.”
by matt, plymouth
Thursday, June 04 2009, 8:16PM
“zoot, zoots coot- Its not Horrabridge but near postbridge.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/devon/discovering/legends/hairy_hands.shtml”
by Laura, saltash
Thursday, June 04 2009, 6:38PM
“I used to live in london and have family in louton,st austell,yorkshire and it been going around there too, its total crap!!”
by myth buster, Plymouth
Thursday, June 04 2009, 4:42PM
“This story has been going on for years about Disney as well. If you look on snopes it will be there loads of times.”
by t, Plymouth
Thursday, June 04 2009, 1:19PM
“Done my internet research and the story is FALSE from Malaysia suprise suprise. I found the myth nearly word for word the same as the above story releating to Drakes Circus..”
by the human beings, Plymouth
Thursday, June 04 2009, 1:02PM
“This is so obvious an urban legend from beginning to end it's laughable that people believe it.
To the person who really believes it is true and relates the story to Malyasia and Singapore and it being a warning for ex-pats to stay away from Malaysia-you have explained the reason for the tale yourself! It was used as a way to keep people away from Malaysia using a scare story -a fake one at that. Sorry to disappoint you Sarhi but you probably heard it from a friend of a friend who had a friend who's friend was travelling in the region who had a friend that read about the story in the local paper.
I may even do some internet research to prove to myself the story in Malaysia is not true in case you have a come back. With a bit of googling either the myth or the true story i will find. And if the story is true in Malaysia I will eat my words and return to say sorry for doubtijg you-but really, I'm still saying it's never happened.”