Hunt for ‘child snatch gang’ after driver ‘tries to lure boy, 12, into car before man in monkey mask lunges at him’
TWO suspected child snatchers are being hunted after a driver allegedly tried to lure a 12-year-old boy into his car - before a man in a monkey mask lunged at him.
The schoolboy was reportedly waiting at a bus stop in Brighton, East Sussex, at 3.10pm yesterday when he was approached by the men in a white car - who fled when members of the public stepped in.
A pal of the boy's mum said the driver offered him a lift home before the other suspect - in a Covid face mask with a monkey design - tried to get out of the car to "get him".
Police say the pair drove away as two other men who were passing intervened.
The family friend posted on Facebook: "A warning to parents! My friend’s son was approached today by a man in a white car claiming to know his dad saying that he would take him home.
“As the man in the drivers seat was talking to him a man in the back wearing a monkey mask and a ponytail tried to get out of the back of the car and get him but two members of the public stopped it from happening.”
One suspect is described as a white man, of a large build, with a ponytail and was wearing a monkey designed facemask.
The other man was also white, aged in his 40s or 50s, and spoke with a Scottish accent.
Police are asking witnesses to come forward with more information.
Det Supt Mike Ashcroft said: "We are pursuing several lines of enquiry as we work to establish the full circumstances.
"We are appealing directly to the two individuals who stepped in to help to come forward and speak to the officers investigating the circumstances of this incident.
Most read in News
"We are also appealing to any other witnesses in the area who may have seen what happened.
"Be assured that incidents such as these are extremely rare and we would urge anyone in this situation to walk away or call for help and dial 999 immediately."
Anyone with information about the incident in Elm Grove should call 101.