Hunt for 'bearded' man who tried to snatch boy, 9, before child wriggled free
The boy was grabbed while he was walking on a street in Fleetwood, Lancashire, on Thursday.
Police are looking for a “bearded man” who attempted to abduct a nine-year-old boy who managed to wriggle free and escape.
The boy was grabbed while he was walking in Fleetwood, Lancashire, on Thursday at around 7:30pm, police said.
He was on Blakiston Street towards the junction of North Albion Street when he was grabbed by the arm, they added.
Police said the unknown man attempted to pull the boy away from the location, but the child was able to break free of the man’s grip, before the man left the scene.
The suspect is described as a white man of a muscly build, with tanned skin, between 5ft 7in and 5ft 10in with black hair and a black bushy beard.
He was said to be wearing a black snood-like face covering, with a black, long-sleeved tracksuit top and black tracksuit shorts. He had an Eastern European accent.
Lancashire Police said in a statement: "The boy was walking down Blakiston Street towards the junction of North Albion Street yesterday evening (July 6) at around 7:30pm.
"It was then that he was grabbed by the arm, where he was attempted to be pulled away from the location by an unknown man.
"The child was able to break free of the man’s grip, and the man left the scene."
DI Steven Montgomery added: “This is a concerning incident where the young boy was thankfully able to free himself from the man’s grip.
“Enquiries are ongoing to identify the man described as soon as possible.
"These incidents are rare, but we have increased reassurance patrols in the area as a precaution.
“If you have any CCTV or dashcam from yesterday evening (July 6), at around 7:30pm or if you have any information in relation to the attempted abduction, or the man described above, I would urge you to get in contact with us.”
