Man allegedly tries to kidnap toddler on Stockdale Rd, Traralgon

Parents in a Gippsland town are being urged to be vigilant after a man tried to kidnap a little girl walking with her mum in broad daylight.

A man tried to kidnap a toddler near the intersection of Alamein Ln and Graham Cr in Traralgon on Thursday morning. Picture: Jack Colantuono

Parents in a Gippsland town are being urged to be vigilant after a reports a man tried to kidnap a toddler near a primary school.

Police are hunting a man, described as caucasian, aged between 40 and 50, with a tanned complexion after he tried to grab the child, a girl aged 1, who was walking with her mother near Stockdale Road Primary School in Traralgon about 9.30am on Thursday.

“It is understood the man picked up the one-year-old girl, who was holding her mother’s hand, before the woman kicked him,” a police spokesperson said.

“The man let go of the toddler and fled the scene on foot eastbound on Graham Crescent.”

Police attended the scene and patrolled the area in search for the man, who was not found.

“He was wearing a brown and white beanie, a black, grey and blue shirt and dark coloured pants.”

Traralgon mother and TJN’N’MAC mental health co-ordinator Rika Van Vliet says the attempted kidnapping is alarming. Picture: Jack Colantuono

Traralgon mother and TJN’N’MAC mental health co-ordinator Rika Van Vliet, 52, said the attempted kidnapping was alarming.

“I see a lot of children walking to and from school,” she said.

“During the weekends, there’s kids on bikes and walking dogs.

“Obviously kids and parents aren’t going to feel safe knowing that there has been someone close by trying to abduct a child.

Ms Van Vliet said it would have been “upsetting and traumatising” for the mother.

The attempted abduction happened near Stockdale Rd in Traralgon. Picture: Jack Colantuono

“Lucky she was able to be strong enough to get away from him — and it’s concerning that there’s so many schools in that area that he may attempt again to try and do something,” she said.

Ms Van Vliet said she saw at least four police cars drive past the street while she was sitting on the front deck of her home on Friday morning.

“This is unfortunate that it’s happened but it’s also making us hyper-vigilant to come together as a community,” she said.

Several concerned Facebook users heard about the incident after it was shared in a Traralgon community group.

“What is this bloody world coming to? Getting too scared to leave the house,” one user said.

Stockdale Road Primary School. Picture: Jack Colantuono

“Increased presence of police this morning on Stockdale Rd — I saw the same police car three times driving down the street — I’m very glad for it,” commented another.

“So horrible!!!!! Hope you’re all OK and he is found,” said another.

Latrobe Crime Investigation Unit detectives are continuing to investigate the situation.

Anyone with further information, witnessed the incident, has dashcam or CCTV footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers Victoria on 1800 333 000, submit a confidential report online or call the Traralgon police station on [phone].