Two mysterious women tried to snatch my niece, 2, from hand in broad daylight… it was terrifying
AN AUNT has told of the terrifying moment a woman and a teenager allegedly attempted to abduct her niece at a car boot sale.
The horror happened at Redcar racecourse in Thrush Road, Middlesbrough yesterday as Louise Stockdale walked with toddler Sadie, two.
Two women then approached the tot and grabbed her hand before attempting to walk away with her, Louise said.
Cleveland Police last night arrested two women, one aged 21, and the other a juvenile.
In a post on Facebook Louise told of the terror she felt when her niece was almost snatched.
She said: “Well, today has been horrific and I feel we need to share and alert people of the dangers that we were presented with today.
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“Today we are lucky and all get to go home safe. We are still shocked but we are all safe.
“We went to Redcar boot. There were a few of us and we had split up.
“I was with my youngest niece, two. She was happily walking along when two ladies came in the picture.
“As I followed my niece they slipped back into view and took her hand.
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“I saw this immediately as she was my only priority so I told her to let go and removed my niece’s hand from the ladies hand.
“There was no eye contact, nothing, and they disappeared. This shook me up but my niece was safe."
Louise said she immediately contacted security officers and went to find the women.
But she said the women were "not alone" - and she was soon surrounded by 15 others.
“The security was amazing and the public around were amazing too," she said.
"They didn't escape and an arrest was made.
“As a family this has shocked us all but also we can not thank everyone that was there and offered us all support."
She urged all parents and carers: “Please keep your babies close.
Keep your babies close... they could have got away with it because it was so busy
"This was an opportunist who could have gotten away with it because of how busy it was.”
A Cleveland Police spokesperson said: "Two females, one 21 years and one a juvenile, are in custody following an alleged incident at a car boot sale at Redcar racecourse in Thrush Road.
"A woman reported that her two-year-old child was walking next to a family member when two females approached her and tried to walk away with her.
"When challenged, they reportedly released the child and were detained.
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"Enquiries are on-going and police would appeal for any information regarding this alleged incident or regarding the females reported to be involved - especially in the period prior to 2.15pm.
"Please contact Cleveland Police on the 101 number quoting ref 86878 or pass information anonymously to or phone them on 0800 555 111."
