A mother has shared the harrowing moment she faced off with a man who allegedly snatched her baby from a children’s playground at a local park.
The mum, 30, and her five children were at Centenary Park in Yinnar, Victoria, at 1.45pm on Friday, May 5, when she said an unknown man approached her 18-month old baby.
“He said nothing. He just looked at me dead in my eyes,” she told 7NEWS.
The baby was playing on an in-ground trampoline when the man picked her up and began walking away with her, the mum said.
“Even when I said, ‘Can I help you?’ (he said) nothing, he didn’t say one word,” the mother said.
She said he remained entirely silent as she sprung to her feet and chased after him.
The mum said she managed to pull the child free before calling triple-0 for help.
“At that point, I jumped up and just grabbed her legs and yanked her back,” the mum said.
“I’m pretty sure I hurt her in the process, but I just wanted to get her back off him.”
The 18-month-old suffered minor injuries, including scratches to her arms and foot, but the man allegedly fled the scene towards public bathrooms in the area.
It is understood the man arrived at the park on his own.
“She’s just so little. I couldn’t imagine what anyone would want with such a little baby,” the mother said.
A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed that a 45-year-old Moe man had been interviewed by police in relation to this incident. He has been released pending further inquiries and an investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has any information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.