Two young girls, aged five and six, were allegedly grabbed by a man carrying a silver suitcase on Allendale Road in Ormesby, near Middlesbrough, on Monday afternoon. The incident occurred at around 3.45pm, according to Cleveland Police.
Incident Details
The suspect reportedly approached the children and attempted to grab them by their wrists. When the girls refused, the man tried to entice them, but they managed to run away. The suspect was described as a white male, of slim build, wearing black or dark clothing, and notably only one shoe, while carrying a silver suitcase.
A 38-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday night in connection with the incident and remained in custody as of Wednesday morning. The arrest followed extensive inquiries by police, including speaking with the victims, the local school, and reviewing CCTV footage.
Police Response
Before the arrest, Acting Sergeant Donnelly from the Greater Eston Neighbourhood Team expressed concern for the community, stating: "This incident will understandably have caused some concern for our communities. We have carried out a number of inquiries already, including speaking with the victims, the local school, CCTV inquiries and having officers speaking to people in the local area."
Police have urged anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues.
