Man in white van tried to abduct boy, 11, walking home from school in Blackburn

The mother of an 11-year-old boy who escaped an abduction attempt while walking home from school in Melbourne’s east has broken down as she described the impact the incident had on her son.

The mother of an 11-year-old boy left shaken after a man in a van tried to abduct him while walking home from school in Melbourne’s east said her son described the would-be kidnapper as “dirty.”

The mother, who did not want to be identified, broke down on Wednesday, as she recalled the impact the incident had on her child.

Police are searching for a man who approached the boy while he was walking home along Halley Street in Blackburn about 3.45pm on November 18.

“He (my son) came home, locked all the doors and told me what happened,” the mother said.

“He’s never been panicked like that before.”

The mother broke down on Wednesday as she described the impact on her son. Picture: David Crosling

The mother said her son had only just started walking to school alone and the incident had left him uncertain around other people.

“I hate to think of what would have happened had he gone with him,” she said.

“It feels pretty brazen, pretty opportunistic, people like that probably aren’t going to stop so the sooner he can be found the sooner kids will be a bit safer.”

A computer-generated image of the man police want to speak to. Picture: Victoria Police

Police have released CCTV of the van they believe was involved in the incident. Picture: Victoria Police

The man — who was not known to the boy — was driving the van when he pulled onto the wrong side of the road, rolled down his window and told the boy that his mum asked him to give him a lift home.

The young boy declined the offer and the man then took off in his vehicle.

Detective Acting Sergeant Joanne Morrison said the boy described the man as speaking “in an inviting tone but had a rough sounding voice”.

“The male spoke to the child and told the child that his mother had said that he was to take him home, the child said no,” she said.

Police believe a van like this one was involved in the incident. Source: Victoria Police,

Detective Morrison applauded the child’s bravery and response.

“The child did the exact right thing… he knew the plan… he wasn’t tricked by the male and that should be commended.”

Detective Morrison said there had been no other reported abduction attempts but police had contacted schools and families in the area to remind children to be vigilant.

A computer generated image of a man has been released by police.

He is described as caucasian, aged between 30 to 40, with dirty, matted, blonde hair.

CCTV images of a van seen in the area prior to the incident have also been released alongside an image of a van believed to be similar to the one involved in the attempted kidnapping.

Any witnesses, anyone with CCTV, dashcam vision or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or anonymously at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.