A man has been arrested after he allegedly attempted to snatch a boy from his bicycle.
The incident took place in Hartlepool, County Durham, shortly before 4pm on Friday afternoon, prompting officers to rush to the scene.
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The suspect has been described as a 40-year-old white British male.
Cleveland Police took the man into custody on suspicion of attempted kidnap following the reported incident.
The force confirmed that the suspect was apprehended after a member of the public intervened at the scene before officers arrived.
The boy, who was targeted in the alleged abduction attempt, was not harmed and managed to escape safely.
The suspect remains in Cleveland Police custody as detectives continue their investigation into the incident.
A bystander played a crucial role in the arrest, stepping in to restrain the man before officers could reach the location in Hartlepool.
The child was able to break free and get to safety during the alleged attempt to grab him from his bike.
Cleveland Police have now called on anyone who may hold information relevant to their inquiry to get in touch with the force.
Local neighbourhood officers are patrolling the area to provide reassurance to the public.
The investigation is ongoing, and officers are working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the alleged attempted abduction.
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Detective Inspector Iain Pearson said: “I understand how concerning this will be for the local community and I want to reassure you that we believe this to be an isolated incident.
“There will be local neighbourhood officers patrolling the area to provide reassurance and I encourage anyone who may have concerns to please speak to them.
“I know there were lots of people around at the time and I want to appeal to you to please come forward if you have information or footage that could help with the investigation.
“You can do this by calling 101 or visiting our website quoting reference number 162346.”
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Man arrested for ‘attempted kidnap of boy on his bike’ as police launch investigation
