An 8-Year-Old Girl Escaped Her Alleged Abductor & Toronto Police Are Looking For Him

It's a parent's worst nightmare: a child being approached by a stranger in their own neighbourhood and abducted. While that was almost what happened in a recent Toronto attempted abduction, the child was luckily able to get away. Now, the police are looking for the suspect, whose car was caught on video.

In this case, the child was an 8-year-old girl who was walking near Blaydon Public School. In a release, Toronto Police said that the girl was outside at 3:30 p.m. on November 1 when she was approached by a "strange man."

The man then reportedly grabbed the girl, covered her mouth, and dragged her for approximately 60 metres toward his vehicle, which was later identified as a red Mazda CX 5. The suspect then tried to force the girl into his vehicle. However, the girl managed to escape from her abductor.

"As he tried to put her in the car, she was able to break free and run to safety," Toronto police Const. David Hopkinson said, according to CTV News. "As far as I am aware, she is fine. She didn’t suffer any significant injury."

Hopkinson did, however, note that the girl is most likely very shaken up and afraid after the experience.

The release from the Toronto Police describes the suspect as "white, 40-50, 5'8", skinny build, and has short grey hair." At the time, the suspect was said to be wearing "a blue and pink t-shirt, grey sweat pants, and black dress shoes."

Police included a photo, as well as security video captured by someone's doorbell camera, of a vehicle matching the description of the suspect's.

Police are asking anyone with information that would lead to an arrest to contact them at 416-808-3100. They have also urged people to contact Crimestoppers at 416-222-TIPS (8477) to report anything anonymously.

Anyone who wishes to provide information to the police can also do so by leaving a tip on the Toronto Police Leave A Tip Facebook Page or www.222tips.com. They can also text "TOR" and a message to CRIMES (274637).

In March 2019, a five-year-old girl was abducted in Markham by her father. In an even more bizarre story, a Toronto teen actually faked his own kidnapping in order to scam money from his parents.

These types of crimes are serious, and even though receiving Amber alert messages on your phone can be annoying (especially at night), they are an integral part of preventing child abductions.

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