The woman attempted to grab the baby but was fended off by the girl's mother
Posted on 08/13/2007 9:12:56 AM PDT by Stoat
The woman attempted to grab the baby but was fended off by the girl's mother
A mother bravely fought off a couple who reached into her pram and attempted to snatch her four-month-old baby daughter by punching one of the would-be abductors in the face.
The female attacker yelled 'get the baby, get the baby' as the pair tried to rip the girl from her pushchair.
But the couple fled empty-handed because the tot was strapped into the pram and were finally driven away by the 30-year-old mother.
The mum, who lives in Leigh, was pushing the pram across a pelican crossing near Hulme Road in Leigh, near Wigan, at 8pm when the couple struck.
The woman first attempted to grab the baby, but as the mother fended her off the man reached into the pram.
He than ran away after being unable to release the baby, at which point the woman again tried to steal the baby.
The ordeal finally ended when the woman ran off after the mother punched her in the face.
Neither the mother nor her child were hurt, but the mother was left traumatised.
Detective Sergeant Graham Rigby, of Wigan CID, said: "This was a deeply disturbing incident in which a couple tried to snatch a baby from a pram.
"Thankfully the mother had strapped her baby into the pram and had the wherewithal to fight off the would-be abductors.
"She put up a determined fight against the couple and managed to fend them off, but she was left understandably horrified by what happened.
"We now need to hear from anyone who either saw what happened, or who saw this couple before the incident.
"We need to catch these people before they put another mother through a similar ordeal."
Police released a description of the couple they are looking for in connection with the incident.
The man is white, about 5ft 7in, in his 40s with a muscular build and very short black hair.
He was wearing black trainers, black jeans and a black leather jacket which covered most of his face.
The woman was also white, around 5ft 6in and in her 40s.
She wore black trainers, dark green combat trousers and a black jacket. Both offenders were wearing black knitted gloves.
Detectives want to hear from anyone who saw a couple fitting their description arguing in Atherleigh Way, near to Sainsbury's supermarket shortly before the incident.
Anyone with information can contact Wigan CID on 0161 856 5307 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
I'm posting this in the hope that it might encourage extra vigilance among moms and dads alike.
Momlist ping
Kidnapping of children by strangers, even attempts, should carry the death penalty. It’s what my wife would give them if anyone ever tried to grab my kids.
Hang em
Draw em
Quarter em
I wonder if “deadly force” would be lawful in warding off a kidnapping attempt? Seems logical to me.
I would guess (and sincerely hope) "yes" in the USA but I'm not so sure about the UK.
could happen anywhere, but if they tried it in a lot of states in the USA, the abductors would end up with various caliber holes in them...
in the UK, the mother that punched the abductor in the face could end up in PRISON.
Surprising that they haven't charged the mother with assault.
MOM Ping.............
The other day I overheard some nasty mother comment to her friend that I was spoiling my baby (who is almost 16 months) for wearing her in a sling while we were out shopping.
1 - I’m definitely not spoiling her. She is beyond independent for her age. 2 - Even if I was, at least I know she is safe and close to my heart.
That might be too much even for them.
Not so surprising, as the "victim" would have to come forward....wouldn't she? And I don't think that is likely to happen.
Thank you very much for pinging your list :-)
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“Nasty” is right. What is wrong with people?
You know your daughter is safe, and as you say close to your heart..........
What a pretty Thank You.
This is a story that could have turned very ugly, with a horribly different ending, I’m so happy it is what it is.
Great movie!
Pay no attention to idiots.
You should have seen the flak my wife and I got with our older girl when she was a toddler. She would dash off the second she got loose. The only way we could hang onto her was to attach a leash to a harness.
Really upset some people, who apparently wouldn’t have minded if she’d dashed into the parking lot and been run over.
After about a year the discipline finally got through and we could ditch the leash.
“I wonder if “deadly force” would be lawful in warding off a kidnapping attempt? Seems logical to me.”
My wife had the same question. I told her that under these circumstances, we’ll worry about that after the autopsy.
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