Police receive 100 calls after child ‘bundled into van’
Cops probe child snatch claims and launch helicopter in search - but say no missing persons reported
POLICE are working their way through more than 100 calls from members of the public claiming to have information about a child who they suspect was abducted in Surrey.
Detectives in Redhill have narrowed down the time frame to between 4.25pm and 4.40pm yesterday.
Cops believe the white boy, thought to be aged six or seven, was "forced into a van against his will" on Redstone Hill- but say an abandoned bike found nearby isn't his.
It comes after a local bartender who works close to the scene said the bike had been "kicking around for a couple of days".
Police are continuing the hunt for the youngster - despite no missing person report being filed locally or nationally that matches his description.
Speaking outside Reigate Police Station, detective superintendent Chris Edwards said: "Teams of officers continue to work on the investigation and have done over the course of the last 24 hours.
"We've had teams of officer from the forensic department, dog officers, and national police and the police air service have assisted.
"We are now rocking our way through and responding to upwards of 100 calls and contacts that we have received from members of the public.
"Now the investigation turns to widening the CCTV recovery and viewing parameters relating to the location."
DS Edwards also urged anyone who had seen a black VW Transporter with three normal wheels and one "space-saver" wheel to get in touch with police.
He added: "We have gone back to the original witness.
"We are completely satisfied with the credibility of that witness.
"I can confirm that we still don't have, within the county, region or nationally, a report of a missing person fitting that description."
Around 130 police officers are involved in the investigation to track down a young boys who was abducted into the back of an A-Team-style van yesterday afternoon, according to the investigating officer.
DS Edwards said: "We take all investigations involving children very seriously and until such time we can prove otherwise, we will continue to investigate it as reported.
"We don't have any evidence to support the theory that there was shouting or screaming from the child.
"They witnessed a child being taken from the roadside, into a van and that appears to be against the child's will.
"There is no information to suggest that there was a struggle - the child appears to have been taken from the roadside against their will."
DS Edwards described it as "extremely unusual" that there had yet been no reports of a missing child, adding: "Given the credibility of the witness account, we have no reason to disbelieve the account."
The witness added: "It's definitely been around for a couple of days, at least. I saw it yesterday morning.
"It was just a broken bike. It looked like someone had just dumped it. I don't know if it worked but I wouldn't have used it.
"It's definitely the one in the photo. It stands out.
"I've never seen anybody using it - it was just dumped."
The bike was found in Redhill, Surrey at around 5pm - but police say no child has been reported missing yet.
Surrey Police are set to hold a press conference at around 3pm.
The youngster was reportedly seen stepping inside a black, modified, Volkswagen transporter with a sliding door and an alloy wheel missing.
A widely circulated photo released by police yesterday appeared to show the van - but the owner came forward this morning and has been ruled out of the investigation.
Cops are still looking for a similar style van with no side writing, no roof rack, and sliding doors.
A spokesman said that police dogs and officers remained out in Redhill and he surrounding areas and said they are treating the report "extremely seriously".
They said: "Although the black van from the CCTV footage has been found and discounted, the description of the van from the passerby still remains.
"Officers are out and trying to track down the owner of that vehicle and we urge the owner to get in touch with Surrey Police."
They added: "It remains extremely important that if you own or know the owner of a vehicle like this which could have been in Redhill yesterday afternoon that you contact police immediately.
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"We would also like to speak to anyone who was on Redstone Hill at around 4:30 to 5pm yesterday or anyone who recognises the mountain bike and may have seen who was riding it yesterday afternoon."
Cops are making "numerous enquiries" into the incident and trying to determine whether the boy and person in the van knew each other.A force spokesman said: "We are currently trying to get to the bottom of what a member of the public, who reported the incident to us, saw.
"We don't yet have a report from a parent of a missing child, and need to urgently find out who the child is.
"We have a good description of the van, but do not have the full number plate."
The boy, believed to be around six-years-old, left his bike at the bottom of a set of stairs and police spent the night searching the area after receiving the alarm.
A spokesman for Surrey Police said: "A member of the public reported seeing the child taken into the van at 4.43pm today in Redstone Hill. The van then left the area."
The child has been described as being white, approximately 4ft tall and around six or seven years-old.
The spot where the boy's mountain bike was found, a small dingy, ivy-lined stairway up to the train station, strewn with empty cans and old newspapers, was busy with commuters this morning.
Heading in and out of the station, they expressed their shock at yesterday's abduction.
One said: "I couldn't believe it when I heard. It's absolutely terrifying - broad daylight, little boy. It's scary."
Another told how he had arrived back into the station just an hour after the alleged abduction.
He said: "I saw it on the news this morning. It's shocking. I've got a little boy and it's really worrying."
Terri Anne lives in a flat opposite the site where the boy's bike was photographed by police yesterday.
The 27-year-old said: "I didn't see anything, there were no sirens, nothing out of the ordinary.
"I first saw it on Facebook, following it all through the night - it's so scary because I've got a six-year-old.
"I couldn't let him out my sight. If he is even out of my sight for a second, if I lose him in a shop g whatever then I panic, because he's got no chance.
"We've been talking about it online and the fact that he hasn't been reported missing is bizarre, it makes me think that maybe it's a custody thing between two parents.
"I moved her two months ago and o really like the area. I'm still just getting used to it and getting to know it, but it seems really nice.
"This is the first thing that's popped up and made me think, maybe it's not all that safe.
"But very protective anyway. I don't let them play outside yet or anything like that - even less so now."
Superintendent Bex Smith from Surrey Police said: "This is an incident we are taking extremely seriously and are asking for anyone with any information regarding the child, the van or what happened to come forward.
"If you were in the area, perhaps commuting to or from Redhill train station at the time please get in touch with us if you saw anything suspicious.
"At this stage we are not ruling out a number of options, including whether the child and the person in the van know each other.”
Anyone with any information should contact Surrey Police and quote Operation Bigfoot.
Alternatively you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.
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