A family in Melbourne, Australia have been left shaken this week following the abduction of their four-year-old daughter, in a shopping centre.
The family were eating dinner in Northland Shopping Centre when a man came along and snatched her, before running towards the exit.
According to the Herald Sun, the man – who had ‘an intellectual disability’ – was pursued by members of the public after the child’s mother let out ‘bloodcurdling’ screams.
The abductor is said to have gotten about 50 metres before the child was taken from him and returned to her panicked family.
Confusion followed, as a woman who had been with the abductor insisted that, due to his disability, he would not have known the gravity of his actions. As a result, shopping centre security urged the family not to involve police.
In the end, local police were called to the scene, and they brought the man to the station. He was later released without charge.
An investigation is now being carried out, and a rep for Northland Shopping Centre confirming that they are working with the authorities.
Thank heavens this poor little one was OK.
