The Metropolitan Police have released CCTV footage of a man suspected of trying to lure a nine-year-old girl off a bus with sweets.
The indicent happened seven months ago and the image has been released today (Wednesday May 29).
Can you name this man who is wanted for questioning after a girl, aged 9, was the victim of an attempted kidnapping in #Wandsworth? Call 101 quoting 5937/02NOV or tweet @MetCC with info. https://t.co/pAmlpLcBx4 pic.twitter.com/jtVrMbRVgX
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) 29 May 2019
The girl is said to have left her school in Wandsworth, south London, on November 2 and got on a bus on Putney High Street at around 4.45pm.
She got off at Dover Park Drive after 15 minutes on the bus, and saw a man sitting at the stop, who tried to strike up a conversation with her.
The police allege he then attempted to lure her to his house with the promise of sweets.
The girl refused and ran away, but he chased her and tried to grab her by the hair as she reached her building.
She managed to get inside and close the door so he could not get in.
Detective Constable Matt Morse, leading the investigation, told ITV News: “While incidents like this are rare we are very keen to trace this man and would urge anyone who can identify him to come forward.”
The suspect is described as a tall, black man who was wearing dark clothes.
The seven-month delay in releasing the information was said to be for “no specific reason”.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told The Independent:
“As standard, a media appeal forms only part of the investigation and a number of other enquiries take place before a decision is made to release CCTV to the media.
“So in this case other investigative leads will have been looked at before considering a media appeal.”
Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting the reference 5937/02NOV.
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