SA Police hunting ‘dishevelled’ man who allegedly approached 12-year-old boy in south parklands

Police are hunting for a man with very specific features after witnesses said a “homeless man” tried to grab a 12-year-old cricket player in the parklands.

Police are looking for a man who approached a boy in the south parklands on Saturday morning. Picture: Morgan Sette

Police are hunting for a man with very specific features after a boy was approached in the south parklands this morning.

At about 9.30am police were called to a park on South Terrace after reports a 12-year-old boy had been approached by a man not known to him.

9News reported that the young boy had gone to the public toilet block while playing school cricket when the man approached him.

The young boy’s father told 9News that it was an attempted abduction and his son was shaken, but okay.

Ekta Suri, a witness, told 9News of the horrifying moment the boy was approached by the “homeless man”.

Police said the boy managed to get away from the man before raising the alarm with adults who were in the area.

Ekta Suri witnessed the attempted abduction and said the boy was scared. Picture: 9News

“He just went to the toilets and a homeless guy tried to force him in and tried to touch him and grab his hand,” Ms Suri said.

“He was really scared, he was brave I would say.

“He just shook off and ran away and came in and told us what happened.”

Ms Suri said the young boy, who can’t be named, sustained some scratches to his hand from the man’s “long nails”.

“I think he hurt (him) on his hand,” she said.

Ms Suri said the attempted abduction was the “last thing” on her mind.

“Kids are playing, it’s such a safe area, it’s such a safe place,” she said.

Officers searched the parklands alongside police dogs Edge and Duke but were unable to locate the man.

He has been described as being of caucasian appearance with an orange beard, orange/brown dirty hair in the style of a mullet, and dishevelled looking.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.