Tunstall Square: Hunt on after alleged attempted theft of boy at Doncaster East shops

A man has been arrested following an alleged stalking in Donvale, one of two terrifying unconnected incidents which happened on the same day in Manningham.

A man has been arrested following an alleged stalking incident on the EastLink trail in Donvale. File picture.

A man has been arrested following an alleged stalking incident in Donvale where a woman was followed while going for a walk on the EastLink trail.

Manningham detectives appealed for public help following the incident on Saturday, September 26 on the trail between Springvale Rd and the Mullum Mullum tunnel about 11am.

The woman allegedly saw the man walking ahead of her with an unusual gait, before he allegedly changed direction and started mirroring her movements.

The man allegedly got within 1m of the woman and she ran off into parkland and called for help as the man allegedly chased her.

He later gave up and went back to the track while the woman received help from a cyclist who walked her back to her car.

Officers arrested a 52-year-old Donvale man on October 1 in relation to the alleged incident.

The man was released and is expected to be charged on summons over the matter.

Meanwhile, detectives are still investigating an alleged attempted child theft at Tunstall Square shopping centre in Doncaster East, also on September 26.

Manningham detective Senior Sergeant Rohan Courtis said a nine-year-old boy was hiding in a doorway at Doncaster East’s Tunstall Square shopping centre when he was allegedly approached from behind by a man at 12.15pm.

A boy was allegedly approached and attacked by a man at Tunstall Square shopping centre about noon on Saturday, September 26. File picture.

The boy was playing hide and seek with his sister and two friends when the man asked him if he liked cars and grabbed his arm.

The boy pulled away, and the man then asked him if he liked candy and tried to grab his arm again.

The boy broke free and ran to his mother, who reported the matter to police.

Sen-Sgt Courtis said the incident was “unusual” and concerning and officers were attempting to get CCTV footage from nearby shops.

He commended the boy and his mother for the way they handled the situation.

“They were a bit shaken up by it all and the mother was very concerned for her child,” Sen-Sgt Courtis said.

“But she has taught her child some safety measures around strangers and her son has applied them beautifully by defending himself and getting straight back to his mum and reporting it.”

A computer-generated image of a man police wish to speak to in relation to an incident in Doncaster East on September 26. Picture: Victoria Police.

Police released a computer-generated image of a man they wish to speak to over the Tunstall Square incident.

He had a tattoo of a snake around his neck, and is described as 175cm, of caucasian appearance with a medium build, a long scruffy beard, brown eyes and scratches on his face.

Any witnesses or anyone with footage of the incident should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.