Missing teenager Erika Kacicova found safe

“Our primary aim now is to concentrate on Erika’s well–being and begin to piece together her movements since she left home.”

Erika went missing from her family’s house in the Darnall area of Sheffield – 30 miles from where she was eventually found – on August 5.

Earlier yesterday, Det Insp Tate, the officer in charge of the hunt for Erika, had appealed directly to her to get in touch and said that an arrested man was known to her.

The 37–year–old, who was arrested on suspicion of child abduction yesterday, was detained in Bradford and taken to Sheffield to be interviewed by officers from the South Yorkshire force.

Det Insp Tate said she believed the man had been in contact with Erika during the previous 96 hours.

The teenager, who is of Slovakian descent, had gone missing once before but not for such a long time, Det Insp Tate said.

She added that there was nothing to suggest a “street grooming” gang had targeted Erika.

Police had earlier released another man from Bradford, a 22–year–old arrested on suspicion of her abduction, on bail.

Crime News – UK Crime News

Missing teenager Erika Kacicova found safe

New photo shows missing Erika, 13

12 August 2013
Last updated at 03:29 ET

Detectives searching for a 13-year-old girl missing from home for nearly a week have released a new picture of her and renewed their appeals for help.

About 50 officers are looking for Erika Kacicova, who was last seen leaving her Sheffield home on Monday.

Police, who have classed the case as a “critical incident”, say there have been reported sightings of Erika but none of them have been confirmed.

A 22-year-old man arrested on suspicion of child abduction has been bailed.

Det Insp Helen Tate, of South Yorkshire Police, said Erika had been missing before but it was out of character for her to disappear for so long.

She said: “We are getting increasingly concerned for her welfare as time goes on.

“Erika is only 13, she is young and a normal teenager, who listens to music and spends time with her family and friends. We want her to return safe and well.”

The detective said Erika’s family were “very distraught” and her younger brother and sister were “missing her terribly”.

The force has about 50 officers and staff working on Erika’s case.

Their search has centered on the Sheffield and Bradford areas where it is known the teenager has friends, and there have been reported but unconfirmed sightings of her in both cities.

Det Insp Helen Tate appeals for Erika to contact them if she can

Police have also received “dozens” of calls from members of the public, Det Insp Tate said.

“Please keep these calls coming in. We will look into any information you can give us,” she added.

The schoolgirl is described as being about 4ft 11in (1.5m) tall, of slim build with long, dark brown, straight hair and brown eyes.

She was said to have been wearing blue jeans, a pink polo shirt and silvery-grey jacket when she left her Poole Road home in the Darnall area of the city at about 16:00 BST.

The man on bail is from Bradford and handed himself into police on Friday.

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New photo shows missing Erika, 13