THE RUC has appealed to parents to be vigilant following the attempted abduction of a seven-year-old child in east Belfast. A couple wearing Halloween masks attempted to lure the boy into their car by offering him sweets. The boy ran off and told his parents, who informed the police.
The incident occurred at about 9 p.m. on Wednesday in the Short Strand area of east Belfast. The woman was blonde and the man dark-haired. Both were aged between 20 and 30.
They were in a red car.
Residents said yesterday that there had been three or four similar incidents in the area in the past few weeks and attempts had been made by Strangers to talk to children at local youth clubs. The RUC said that, because of this, parents and those in charge of children should be vigilant.
Similar incidents occurred during the summer. In July, near Kilkeel, Co Down, a couple offered sweets and toys to two boys and asked them to get into their car. The boys, aged nine and 10, ran off.
