Police are searching for this man and a woman who tried to snatch a baby after knocking on a stranger’s door and asking if they needed childcare
Police are searching for a man and a woman who tried to snatch a baby after knocking on a stranger’s door and asking if they needed childcare.
The man and woman reportedly knocked on the door of a property in Hatfield around 5pm on August 22, before asking Zoe Whyman, 27, if she needed childcare.
They then tried to grab hold of her baby.
They didn’t give their names but said they were asking people in the area if they needed childcare.
Ms Whyman said she felt uncomfortable when the man called her baby ‘cute’. He tried to grab her baby as she shut the door.
She said: ‘The man said to me “he looks like a cute baby, can I give him a cuddle?”
‘It was a strange comment and my gut was telling me to shut my door so I stepped back and with my foot started to push my front door shut.
‘The man then launched forward to try and grab my baby but luckily I managed to shut my door in time and then they ran away.
‘I called the police straight away. I was so scared that they would come back and try again.
‘I feel heartbroken that it’s happened and am now worried that people have been watching me and that’s how they knew I had kids and a baby.
‘I don’t want to be alone now, open my door, or let my children out of my sight. I feel really anxious.’
She said she wanted to warn other parents and urged them to take care.
‘I just want to make other parents aware and warn them that this happened. Please, please be careful everyone.’
The man and woman reportedly knocked on the door of a property in Hatfield before asking Zoe Whyman, 27, if she needed childcare. They then tried to grab hold of her baby
Detective Sergeant Malcolm Dey, of Hertfordshire Constabulary, said: ‘This image has been created using the description provided by the victim.
‘I would ask for the public’s help to identify the man pictured so we can ascertain his intentions that day.
‘As a result of inquiries conducted so far, we have not received any other reports of incidents of this nature in Hatfield. However, I would like to hear from any residents in the area who may have had a knock on the door from this man offering childcare.
‘He was in the company of a woman, who is described as being of Asian appearance and wearing a hijab.’
Police said it was an isolated incident and it ‘wasn’t a long exchange’ on the doorstep.
Anyone who thinks they may know the identity of the person pictured is asked to contact Hatfield Local Crime Unit on the non-emergency number 101 quoting ISR 513 of August 22.
Alternatively, if you have any information about this incident you can contact the independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their Anonymous Online Form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.