Cape Town – Police in Bellville are investigating a case of attempted kidnapping after a 13-year-old boy walking along De Houtman Street in Belrail was pushed inside a vehicle by unknown men on Friday morning.
The incident, which has been caught on surveillance camera and the video widely shared on social media, shows the boy walking on the side of the road, when a silver car pulls up and a man jumps out and tries to force the boy into the car.
Police spokesperson FC Van Wyk said a neighbour ran towards the car and threw something at the suspects, and the boy fell out of the car while the suspects fled the scene.
“According to available information (from) the complainant, a 13-year-old boy was walking in Houtman Street, Bellville, on Friday, April 2, at 11am when he noticed an unknown man walking behind him. A silver coloured motor vehicle with three occupants stopped next to him.
’’One jumped out and with the help of the one who was walking, pushed the boy into the vehicle. A neighbour of the boy ran towards the car and threw something at the suspects. The boy fell out of the car and the suspects fled the scene,” Van Wyk said.
He said there were no injuries reported, no arrests have been made, and the investigation continues.
Anyone with information can anonymously contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or SMS Crime Line on 32211
The incident comes as Knysna police arrested a 20-year-old woman for allegedly kidnapping her friend’s three-month old baby at Kwanokuthula in Plettenberg Bay on Sunday.
Police spokesperson in the region, Christopher Spies, said it was alleged that the woman took the toddler under false pretences when she visited the mother on Saturday.
“A search party was established. The investigation took the police to Kwanokuthula where the woman and the toddler were found at a church. Investigators attached to the George Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual offences unit and Knysna detectives arrested the woman on a charge of kidnapping,” he said.
She remains in custody, and will appear in the Knysna Magistrate’s Court once charged.
Cape Times