Investigation launched over attempted abduction of child in Wolverhampton

It happened on Thursday evening

black and white grainy image of a man. WMP
Author: Hannah RichardsonPublished 11th Jan 2025
Last updated 11th Jan 2025

An investigation has been launched into the attempted abduction of a three-year-old child in Wolverhampton.

West Midlands Police received a report that a man tried to pick up and take the young girl while she was outside a house in Leicester Street at around 5.15pm on Thursday 9th January with an older relative.

He was stopped by the child's mother and is then understood to have left in the direction of Harrow Street.

The child was not injured and officers are offering support to her, and her family, as they work to identify and locate the person involved.

CCTV is being retrieved and reviewed and the force are speaking to people in the area as investigators continue with house-to-house enquiries.

The suspect is believed to be mixed race, aged in their 20s to 30s and around 5ft 9ins tall. He had short curly dark hair, facial hair and brown eyes which showed signs of reddening.

Local officers are out in the neighbourhood to offer reassurance. However, the incident is being treated as isolated at this stage.

Det Insp Nicola Pestel at Wolverhampton CID, said: "We understand that this will be a shock for people, and our investigation to trace and detain the person involved is moving at pace.

"We'd ask everyone in the area to support us by coming forward with any information they may have, to check doorbell cameras or dashcams in their cars, for any footage which may assist our enquiries."

Anyone with information, is asked to get in touch with police.

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