Man attempts to lure 11-year-old boy to his car in brazen Murray Bridge daylight abduction attempt

A South Australian father has been left shaken and angry after a man tried to “grab and drag” his 11-year-old boy into a car, saying police failed to investigate the horrifying incident.

A dad has revealed his disbelief after he was unable to contact police to report a man who allegedly tried to brazenly abduct his 11-year-old boy from a Murray Bridge park on Sunday afternoon.

Murray Bridge father Daryl Groves said his young son was walking through Jubilee Park on the corner of Swanport Road and Long Island Road at around 3.15pm when he was approached by the middle-aged man.

“He was walking through the park to his aunty’s, which is really close to where we live,” Mr Groves told The Messenger.

“This white man in his late 40s or early 50s wearing all black, sunglasses and a beard called out to him and then tried to grab him.

“He was really shaken up by it – it’s scary, I didn’t think that sort of thing happened around here.”

Murray Bridge father Daryl Groves. Picture: Facebook

Mr Groves said the man said to his son ‘I’ve got something to show you – it’s in my car over here’.

He then tried to grab the boy and drag him away, however the child was able to break free and run away.

Mr Groves said he tried to call the Murray Bridge police station three times following the incident but didn’t receive a response, so he resorted to putting a post up on Facebook warning other parents in the area.

“I tried calling the cops a few times but did not get an answer so I put up a post on Facebook warning other parents in the area,” he said.

“It was just down the road from my house and in the middle of the day.

“I wanted to let other parents know that there’s a man in the area trying to lure kids away and anyone with young children should be careful.”

A SAPOL spokesperson said Murray Bridge police were “aware of the report made on Sunday in relation to an incident where a male was reported to have attempted to grab a boy”.

“No other reports have been received about this, or similar incidents, in Murray Bridge over the weekend. Anyone with further information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000,” the spokesperson said.

“If anyone sees this type of behaviour occurring at the time, they should call Triple Zero immediately.”

Jubilee Park in Murray Bridge. Picture: Supplied