Attempted baby-snatching; 12-year-old girl, 14-year-old boy charged
Published Friday, December 5, 2014 7:28AM EST
Last Updated Friday, December 5, 2014 2:06PM EST
A Toronto mother managed to thwart the attempted abduction of her daughter by hunching over and wrapping her arms around the child, police said Friday. A 12-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy face numerous charges.
The attempted-snatching unfolded late Thursday night, Toronto police said, when a girl and boy allegedly approached the woman in the east end of Toronto, physically assaulted her and tried to make off with her daughter.
"This is a very alarming situation," Toronto Police Insp. Arthur Little said at a news conference Friday afternoon.
Published Friday, December 5, 2014 7:28AM EST
Last Updated Friday, December 5, 2014 2:06PM EST
A Toronto mother managed to thwart the attempted abduction of her daughter by hunching over and wrapping her arms around the child, police said Friday. A 12-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy face numerous charges.
The attempted-snatching unfolded late Thursday night, Toronto police said, when a girl and boy allegedly approached the woman in the east end of Toronto, physically assaulted her and tried to make off with her daughter.
"This is a very alarming situation," Toronto Police Insp. Arthur Little said at a news conference Friday afternoon.
"The fact that it was committed, allegedly at this time, by a 12-year-old female suspect and a 14-year-old male suspect is a major cause for concern."
Little said police had been in contact with the mothers of both of the suspects.
The 29-year-old woman was walking with her toddler at 10:45 p.m. on Guildwood Parkway, southwest of Kingston Road, in Toronto's Scarborough neighbourhood when she was attacked. She was on her way home from Scarborough's Guildwood GO Station.
A boy and girl approached the mother and her child from behind, and allegedly told her to hand over her 21-month-old toddler, along with her cellphone and money.
The mother told police they threatened to hurt the child, and then turned on her, kicking and punching her.
In a message on Twitter, police said the mother "turtled" around her daughter, hunching over to protect her during the attack.
As the attack continued, the mother fell backwards and the girl allegedly grabbed the toddler. The mother managed to grab her daughter back, but was kicked and punched again before the pair fled, police said.
They were unable to kidnap the baby, but robbed the woman before running off, police said.
The mother called police to the scene immediately after the attack.
Both mother and baby were transported to hospital with minor injuries. They have since been released, and police said the mother is tired but her physical injuries are minor. The toddler was uninjured, police said at a news conference Friday afternoon.
A girl was arrested fleeing the scene, while the boy was found nearby about an hour later with the help of a canine unit.
Police recovered all of the stolen property upon arrest.
Toronto Police Staff Sgt. Peter Moreira was seen dropping off a teddy bear at the apartment building where the assault happened later on Friday morning.
Speaking to reporters, he said the teddy bear was a gift from the officers at 43 Division.
"It was our way of showing her that we're obviously thinking of her and her recovery."
According to a statement issued Friday morning, police said the pair have been charged with a second robbery that was reported earlier in the night.
At approximately 7:45 p.m., a 38-year-old woman was walking in the area of Markham Road and Lawrence Avenue East when she was approached by a boy and girl, the statement said.
The pair allegedly pushed her down, tore off her purse and ran. The victim flagged down a passerby who called police, but they were unable to track down the suspects in the area.
As a result of the incidents, the pair will be facing numerous charges relating to attempted abduction and robbery, police said.
The girl is charged with abduction of a person under 14, assault, two counts of robbery and one count of uttering threats.
The boy is charged with abduction of a person under 14, assault, two counts of robbery, two counts of uttering threats and two counts of failing to comply with police. He's also facing two counts of breach of recognizance, meaning he faced some charges previously.
The suspects, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, are expected to appear in court Friday.
Read more: Toronto mother thwarts attempted abduction of toddler; 12-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy charged | CTV News
Unfreaking real.
Little said police had been in contact with the mothers of both of the suspects.
The 29-year-old woman was walking with her toddler at 10:45 p.m. on Guildwood Parkway, southwest of Kingston Road, in Toronto's Scarborough neighbourhood when she was attacked. She was on her way home from Scarborough's Guildwood GO Station.
A boy and girl approached the mother and her child from behind, and allegedly told her to hand over her 21-month-old toddler, along with her cellphone and money.
The mother told police they threatened to hurt the child, and then turned on her, kicking and punching her.
In a message on Twitter, police said the mother "turtled" around her daughter, hunching over to protect her during the attack.
As the attack continued, the mother fell backwards and the girl allegedly grabbed the toddler. The mother managed to grab her daughter back, but was kicked and punched again before the pair fled, police said.
They were unable to kidnap the baby, but robbed the woman before running off, police said.
The mother called police to the scene immediately after the attack.
Both mother and baby were transported to hospital with minor injuries. They have since been released, and police said the mother is tired but her physical injuries are minor. The toddler was uninjured, police said at a news conference Friday afternoon.
A girl was arrested fleeing the scene, while the boy was found nearby about an hour later with the help of a canine unit.
Police recovered all of the stolen property upon arrest.
Toronto Police Staff Sgt. Peter Moreira was seen dropping off a teddy bear at the apartment building where the assault happened later on Friday morning.
Speaking to reporters, he said the teddy bear was a gift from the officers at 43 Division.
"It was our way of showing her that we're obviously thinking of her and her recovery."
According to a statement issued Friday morning, police said the pair have been charged with a second robbery that was reported earlier in the night.
At approximately 7:45 p.m., a 38-year-old woman was walking in the area of Markham Road and Lawrence Avenue East when she was approached by a boy and girl, the statement said.
The pair allegedly pushed her down, tore off her purse and ran. The victim flagged down a passerby who called police, but they were unable to track down the suspects in the area.
As a result of the incidents, the pair will be facing numerous charges relating to attempted abduction and robbery, police said.
The girl is charged with abduction of a person under 14, assault, two counts of robbery and one count of uttering threats.
The boy is charged with abduction of a person under 14, assault, two counts of robbery, two counts of uttering threats and two counts of failing to comply with police. He's also facing two counts of breach of recognizance, meaning he faced some charges previously.
The suspects, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, are expected to appear in court Friday.
Read more: Toronto mother thwarts attempted abduction of toddler; 12-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy charged | CTV News
Unfreaking real.
