Child-snatcher van called urban legend

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Police in Stockholm, Sweden, say rumors of a child-snatcher driving around in a white van are an "urban myth."

Detective Inspector Ludvig Sanberg told the Dagens Nyheter daily newspaper Sunday said reports of such a kidnapper have been persistent, though unsubstantiated.

"We have heard about a white transit van for some 10 years, but this has much to do with the fact that this is the most common type of van," Sanberg said. "I am convinced that there is no particular person in a particular white van looking for children."

Most recently, parents at two schools in the Stockholm suburbs of Aspudden and Alvsjo reported a white van to other parents, as well as the police.

Swedish news agency TT reports Australian criminologists came a similar conclusion in 2009. They explained that urban legends such as these play on the greatest fears of parents and thus generate hysteria easily, ABC news reported.

Swedish authorities confirmed last year that not one crime of this sort was on record.