Boy, 4, ‘snatched by a man and carried off to Iceland store before desperate mother chased him down

‘Man snatched boy, 4, and carried him off towards Iceland store’ before his desperate mother chased him down and grabbed him back – as police appeal for CCTV and witnesses

  • Young boy was picked up by an ‘Asian man’ in his ‘early 30s’, around 5ft 5in tall
  • The mother alleges they were approached by the man outside a shoe repair shop
  • He walked off in the direction of Iceland on Walton Vale high street in Liverpool

A man reportedly snatched a four-year-old boy on a high street in Liverpool who was out shopping with his mother.

Police received reports that the young boy was grabbed after he and his mother were approached outside Top Class Shoe Repairs on Walton Vale road on Tuesday 10 May at around 12.45pm.

The mother alleges the suspect then carried the four-year-old across the road.

She told officers that she followed the man and grabbed her son back before heading into a nearby shop.

The stranger – described as an Asian man in his early 30s, around 5ft 5in tall, of stocky build – then walked off in the direction of an Iceland supermarket, towards Rice Lane, which is 43 yards away from where he snatched the boy in Top Class Shoe Repairs.

Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact them with more information, while, the mum posted a warning on Facebook.

A four-year-old boy was reportedly picked up outside Top Class Shoe Repairs on Walton Vale in Liverpool (pictured), on Tuesday 10 May at around 12.45pm

The warning has been shared by thousands of local residents.

Community Policing Inspector Sarah Rotherham said: ‘We have launched an investigation into this incident to establish the full circumstances.

‘This took place in the day on a relatively busy road and we are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident to contact us.

‘I also urge people who were in the vicinity at that time to please check your CCTV and dashcam footage which may have captured the incident.

The four-year-old boy's mother reported to police that the man who snatched her child went in the direction of Iceland, southwards from the shoe repair shop, on Walton Vale, towards Rice Lane in Liverpool

The four-year-old boy’s mother reported to police that the man who snatched her child went in the direction of Iceland, southwards from the shoe repair shop, on Walton Vale, towards Rice Lane in Liverpool

‘I’d also like to assure everyone that we take any reports of this nature extremely seriously.

‘We’ll act on all information provided and are absolutely determined to find this man to ensure that no such incidents happen again.’

Anyone with information is asked to contact @MerPolCC or 101 quoting reference 20000320202. You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.