Police launch attempted abduction probe after ‘stranger told boy, six, he had sweets in his van’
- Reports say the boy, 6, was approached by a stranger while he was in his garden
- The man told the victim he had sweets and drinks in attempt to lure him to a van
- Boy alerted his mother and man left the scene but police are now investigating
A man attempted to lure a six-year-old boy into a van with sweets and drinks, police said.
Scotland Yard said the child was approached by a man who spoke to him over a garden wall at an address in Balham, on Thursday at around 4.30pm.
Police say the man reportedly told the boy he had some sweets and drinks in his van before the child ran back inside and alerted his mother.
The Metropolitan Police are investigating reports that a man offered sweets and drinks to a six-year-old boy in an attempted abduction in Clarence Avenue, Balham, London (pictured)
By the time she came outside the man had left. She did not see the man or the alleged van.
The boy was physically unharmed but police were alerted and an attempted abduction investigation has been launched.
The suspect was described by the victim as a brown skinned male, approx. 5ft 6in tall, with short black hair, wearing a blue blazer, and black trousers.
Detective Sergeant Mark Pascall said: ‘Incidents of this nature are very rare and in this instance the boy was not harmed at all.
Police have said the incidents of this nature are ‘very rare’ as they appeal for witnesses
‘Nonetheless, I completely understand the concern it has caused both the boy’s family and the community, and can assure local people that we are taking this incident very seriously.’
The mother did not see the man or the van, but the boy described him as brown, about 5ft 6in, with black hair, wearing a blue blazer and black trousers.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.