Four year-old boy ‘abducted’ in park while mother was tending to baby

Police said a four-year-old boy was abducted from a park near Dudley and later rescued from woodland.

The child’s mother was caring for a baby nearby when the incident occurred. The boy went missing near the fishpond at Haden Hill Park on Halesowen Road in Cradley Heath, near Dudley, at around 3pm on Thursday.

He was missing for several minutes until police found him in a nearby wooded area.

West Midlands Police are still appealing for information about the incident and are investigating evidence, including CCTV footage from the surrounding area.

“We believe this is an isolated incident, but we understand how worrying it is and the impact it will have on the area and local community,” a spokesman said.

Police said they were in the “early stages of the investigation” and specially trained officers were speaking to Book and his family to establish exactly what happened.

It was stated that the suspect was a teenager, had black hair, was short and had curly hair. He was described as clean shaven and wearing black clothing.

“We are currently working on CCTV as we investigate,” police said in a statement on Friday.

“We are also appealing for any witnesses to come forward and are particularly appealing to anyone who was in the park at the time and has mobile phone footage to contact us.”

According to the BBC, extra officers remained in the area on Friday to reassure the local community. The area is residential and the park is located off the main road.

Cradley Heath is a Black Country town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell in the West Midlands. It is located 8 miles from Birmingham.

Police said: “Anyone with information is asked to call us on 101 quoting registration number 3966-180626. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”

A public link created for members of the public to post any evidence, photos or information here: https://wmp.uk.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/haden_hill