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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Tia Sharp: Shannon Matthews police help in hunt | Tia Sharp: Shannon Matthews police help in hunt |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Police from the force that investigated the kidnapping of Shannon Matthews are involved in the search for missing schoolgirl Tia Sharp, Scotland Yard has confirmed. | Police from the force that investigated the kidnapping of Shannon Matthews are involved in the search for missing schoolgirl Tia Sharp, Scotland Yard has confirmed. |
| Tia, 12, disappeared on Friday on her way to shop at the Whitgift Centre in Croydon, south London. | |
| Officers from West Yorkshire Police are involved to draw on their expertise. | |
| Police warned local searchers not to enter private property after two people were threatened with a weapon. | |
| Eighty officers are involved in the search for Tia, who went missing after a visit to her grandmother's house in New Addington in Croydon. | Eighty officers are involved in the search for Tia, who went missing after a visit to her grandmother's house in New Addington in Croydon. |
| The disappearance of nine-year-old Shannon in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, prompted a large-scale police search in 2008. | The disappearance of nine-year-old Shannon in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, prompted a large-scale police search in 2008. |
| Twenty-four days later she was found alive under a bed in Batley Carr, less than a mile from her home. | Twenty-four days later she was found alive under a bed in Batley Carr, less than a mile from her home. |
| Shannon's mother Karen Matthews and Michael Donovan - the uncle of Ms Matthews's partner - were convicted in December 2008 of the child's kidnap, which they committed in a plan to claim £50,000 in reward money. | Shannon's mother Karen Matthews and Michael Donovan - the uncle of Ms Matthews's partner - were convicted in December 2008 of the child's kidnap, which they committed in a plan to claim £50,000 in reward money. |
| A Met spokesman said it was "routine" to liaise with all forces that have dealt with similar cases. | A Met spokesman said it was "routine" to liaise with all forces that have dealt with similar cases. |
| He added: "This case is like the Shannon Matthews case. | He added: "This case is like the Shannon Matthews case. |
| "This is a missing persons case and we are putting all our resources into finding her." | "This is a missing persons case and we are putting all our resources into finding her." |
| Stuart Hazell - the partner of Tia's grandmother Christine Sharp - was questioned by police as a witness for more than two hours on Wednesday. | |
| The search for Tia has prompted a huge community effort with hundreds of people turning out to search woodland and fields and hand out leaflets. | |
| But police have confirmed that at about 00:15 BST on Thursday two people from a search party were threatened with a weapon as they tried to search a garage in Foxcombe, New Addington. | |
| 'Confronted by homeowner' | |
| A Met police spokesman said: "Two people from the search party were confronted by the homeowner. | |
| "It was alleged the homeowner threatened the residents with a weapon. | |
| "This was later reported at a local police station and officers from Croydon CID are now investigating. No arrests were made." | |
| The police force has reminded people not to enter private property without permission. | |
| Local councillor Carole Bonner said police had asked residents to concentrate on giving out leaflets and not to conduct their own searches. | |
| She said: "People want to be doing something." | |
| She added that local people had "proved their worth" in their "fantastic" efforts so far. | |
| Sue Randall, secretary of Croydon Rugby Club, which had become a gathering point, said she has been advised by police to close the club until further notice. | |
| About 200 people turned out there to search woodland on Tuesday. | |
| Ms Randall said: "They have told us to concentrate on handing out leaflets. | |
| "I suppose they don't want people to go out on their own and contaminate evidence." |