Police launch hunt for ‘chubby’ child snatcher who targeted two 11-year-old girls as they walked to school and tried to drag one of them off the street
- Two girls were approached in Newham, London, at around 8.10am this morning
- Man grabbed victim and tried to pull her away as friend managed to tug her free
- Met Police said it is working to ensure the man is ‘apprehended without delay’
- He is said to have been wearing a blue hat, grey coat, black bottoms and T-shirt
Police have launched a hunt for a ‘chubby’ child snatcher who targeted two 11-year-old girls as they walked to school and tried to drag one of them off the street.
The two girls were approached on Woolwich Manor Way in Newham, London, at 8.10am this morning by a man drinking what was thought to be alcohol.
He grabbed one of the victim’s arms and tried to pull her away while her friend managed to tug her free. The pair then ran away.
The two girls were approached on Woolwich Manor Way (pictured) in Newham, London, at 8.10am this morning by a man drinking what is thought to be alcohol
Met Police detectives say they are looking for a 6ft tall black male of ‘medium/chubby build’, aged around 30, with short dark hair.
He was wearing a navy blue knitted hat with a dark grey coat, black jogging bottoms, black T-shirt and possibly a navy blue gilet.
The force stated that officers from North East Command Unit ‘continue in their efforts to identify the man’.
It added that police are ‘working closely with the school to ensure that both staff and pupils are supported, and that the male is identified and apprehended without delay’.
The man grabbed one of the victim’s arms and tried to pull her away while her friend managed to tug her free. The pair then ran away (pictured: Woolwich Manor Way in Newham)
PC Harry Albon, who is investigating the incident, said: ‘Although the girls were not physically harmed, they were understandably shaken by this incident.
‘At the time the girls were approached there were a number of young people on their way to school who may have seen the victims struggling to get away from the suspect.
‘It is important that those people make themselves known to police and share what they saw.’
Anyone with information is urged to contact the police on 101 quoting 2606/19NOV.