Mother Reports Attempt to Kidnap 2-Year-Old Child
LAKE FOREST — Sheriff’s deputies are investigating a possible attempted kidnaping Thursday of a 2-year-old child in front of a shopping center in the 22300 block of El Toro Road.
A South County woman was walking to her car about 12:30 p.m., with her child, groceries and rented videotapes, according to sheriff’s Lt. Dan Martini, when another woman approached, bumped the mother and attempted to snatch her child.
“The mother grabbed the child’s clothing and there was a short struggle,†and the mother pulled her child back, Martini said. The assailant ran off, got into a car driven by a second person and fled. Officers would not identify the mother.
“Both victims are in good condition,†Martini said.
“You really have to commend the action of the mother. She fought for her child and won.â€
The woman returned to the video store, where a clerk called police.
In the struggle, some of the mother’s personal property disappeared, and Martini said that the assault could have been a diversion for a robbery.
Nonetheless, he said, “we are looking at it as an attempted kidnaping. . . . It’s a warning flag for everyone.â€
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