No Child Abduction Intended In Rushden

20 December 2018, 12:47 | Updated: 20 December 2018, 12:49

Northants Police are reacting to concerns circulating on social media after reports of an attempted abduction of a child in Asda's in Rushden.

Officers say they were made aware of something happening at about 2.40pm yesterday (Wednesday, 19th Dec) when it was reported that a woman shopping in Asda in Washbrook Road, had picked up a 2 year-old child who was not hers and walked away with him.

The mother intervened and reported it to store security and the police.

Detective Inspector Steve Watkins said:

"We take such reports very seriously and have investigated the full circumstances relating to this incident, including a thorough review of store CCTV footage.

Following our inquiries, this would appear to be a case of mistaken identity. The woman who picked up the child also had a child of similar age who was wearing a jacket of the same colour, and the two children appear to have been playing together at one point.

I fully understand how distressing and worrying this will have been for the child’s mother and I would always encourage people to be vigilant and report any suspicious actions or behaviour.

However, thankfully on this occasion, from reviewing the CCTV footage and speaking to store security, there is nothing to indicate there was any genuine intent to take the child.”