Missing US teen ‘lured to Britain by an older man’
A DESPERATE search is under way for an American teenager who may have been lured to Britain after texting an older man.
Victoria Grabowski, 16, is feared to have flown to Heathrow at the weekend after paying for a flight from New York in cash.
Her parents have reportedly discovered text messages which show she had been communicating with an older man in Britain. Scotland Yard said its officers have spoken to her family and are treating the case as a missing persons investigation.
Victoria, who lives in Queens, New York City, is a Polish citizen and is believed to have used her Polish passport to travel to London, according to US media reports. She was last seen at her home at around 10am on Saturday. Her parents are unsure how she could have paid for the flight from John F Kennedy Airport herself and have tried calling her but her mobile phone has been switched off.
Victoria’s uncle Arkadiusz Grabowski said her parents discovered she had been talking to an older man in a group chat. He added: ‘The texts show that she got fascinated with London and wanted to move there.’ Mr Grabowski said her parents think the man she had been talking to is older, based on a photo in the text thread.
Her parents are understood to have hired a famous Polish private investigator. A New York Police Department spokesman said: ‘[Victoria] left JFK on Saturday morning and reached the UK on Monday morning. We’re working with UK police, but unless she contacts us, we’re not going to know too much more.’
On Monday, family friend Bernadetta Gajdzinski appealed on Facebook for help with the hunt. She said: ‘I have a great request to all my friends and acquaintances – those living in London and all of you who have family or
‘Fascinated with London’
acquaintances there. ‘On Saturday the daughter of my friends travelled from New York to London without their knowledge. Her name is Victoria Grabowski.
‘Please send these photos further, maybe someone will meet or notice her and then report it to the police.’
A Met Police spokesman said: ‘The Met was contacted by the National Crime Agency regarding a 16-year- old US citizen who is believed to have travelled to the UK via Heathrow. She is being treated as a missing person and inquiries to find her are ongoing.
‘Officers have liaised with her family and will be speaking with the NYPD.’