Detectives have launched an investigation after a stranger attempted to lure a toddler from a children’s park in Royal Wootton Bassett yesterday morning.
The suspicious incident happened when a woman in her 20s had taken her two-year-old daughter to the newly built play area near Churn Way at around 11.30am.
When the woman looked away briefly, a man approached her daughter and attempted to exit the park with her. The woman immediately grabbed her daughter and the man walked off.
Police say there was no verbal exchange and no physical altercation during the incident. The woman and her child returned home safely and called the police.
The man is described as tanned, between 30 and 40 years of age, approximately five foot eleven inches tall and of average build. He was wearing a polo shirt type top with long shorts.
Detective Inspector Paul Hacker said: “Since receiving this initial report, officers have been conducting extensive enquiries in the area.
“Unfortunately, there appears to be no CCTV opportunities available, however we have been continuing with house to house enquiries and further enquiries are being conducted today.
“Understandably, this incident has caused anxiety and upset to those involved and no doubt this news will cause further concern amongst the local community – at this stage of our investigation we are keeping an open mind as to what the man’s intentions may have been.
“It is possible that there may be an innocent explanation to this and if that is the case, we would still like to speak to the man involved to understand exactly what this was. Rest assured we are leaving no stone unturned in our enquiries to identify him.
“We know there were a couple of children in the park at the time, there may also have been other parents in that area too. If you were in the park area yesterday at around 11.30am please do get in touch.”
Anyone with information should call 101 and quote crime reference number 54200073762. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
