Woman Says Pair Tried To Take 3-Year-Old

A Spokane Valley woman believes two strangers tried to abduct her 3-year-old daughter while they were shopping in the Spokane Valley Mall, Sheriff’s deputies said.

The 28-year-old woman was walking 15 to 20 feet ahead of her toddler Monday afternoon when she glanced back and saw that two strangers, both women, had stopped the child. One woman was behind the girl, with her hands on her shoulders, police said. Another woman was bending down, talking to the toddler.

The child’s mother heard the woman say “Hurry up.”

The woman ran to her daughter and hit one of the strangers in the face, police said. Both of the strangers ran off.

The woman tried to locate a security officer, but couldn’t find one for about 20 minutes. A sheriff’s deputy responded, but couldn’t locate the suspects.

Sheriff’s officials said stranger abductions are extremely rare and they aren’t sure if Monday’s incident was an actual attempt, or a misunderstanding. The strangers, they said, appeared unaware that the child’s mother was nearby.

The mother described the women as white, 35 to 40 years old, and about 5-foot-7. One was about 165 pounds, with straight, dark brown, shoulderlength hair, bangs and a large nose. The other was about 185 pounds, with straight, grey-streaked black hair below her shoulders, bangs and a large nose. The second woman had a mole on her right cheek. Both were wearing royal blue windbreakers.

The two women looked like they were related, the mother reported.

Anyone with information about the incident should call Crime Check at 456-2233.

, DataTimes