By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
A YOUNG boy celebrated his seventh birthday with his family on Monday, just two days after being saved from an attempted kidnap.
And his parents and police have commended another boy who raised the alarm as he watched the abduction attempt unfold on Saturday.
Jordan Cary, who was six at the time, was grabbed from the playground in Sweeney Reserve, Narre Warren, on Saturday about 5pm.
His would-be kidnapper dragged him more than 70 metres towards Melzak Way before letting him go and fleeing on foot when a woman approached him.
The man is still at large and left the area with a young girl, aged between four and five, who is believed to be known to him.
Close to 50 people were at the reserve for a friendly softball game at the time, including Jordan’s father.
Jordan did not suffer any injuries.
Jordan’s parents Mark and Lauren Cary praised the young child who alerted other adults to the kidnap attempt.
“I think without him going to speak to get some help, the situation wouldn’t have ended the way it did and there’s a high chance that it would have been much worse,” Lauren said.
“For a six-year-old boy to go and get some help like that, we think that’s incredible.”
The pair also raised concern for a young girl who was seen with the attempted abductor.
“It might not have been his daughter, it might have been someone else we knew,” Mark said.
“(Her parents) could be playing a (softball) game, standing where I was, just a few metres away.”
Mark, still visibly shaken when he spoke to media on Sunday, said he had spent Saturday night sleeping next to Jordan on the couch.
Detective Senior Constable Prue Ward from the Greater Dandenong Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT) also commended the young boy who alerted others and helped prevent the abduction.
“He’s done an excellent job in the circumstances.
“It was quite distressing to some of the children in the park at the time and for him to show that courage and come forward and speak to an adult,” she said.
“I think he had to express that it was actually happening and it wasn’t a joke a number of times so parents could come out and attend to it straight away.
“It certainly stopped an incident, it could have been a lot worse and we congratulate him for that behaviour.”
Police have released a FACE image of the man involved in the attempted abduction, who is believed to be of Indian appearance, about 177cm tall and wearing a black shirt, black shorts and glasses at the time.
The young girl with the man wore a pink top and a skirt and had black hair in a ponytail.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppers.com.au.
