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Please be advised that through the course of the investigation, the man was identified. It has been clarified that the man, while walking through the parking lot, observed the child standing in the seat portion of the shopping cart and was afraid for the safety of the boy. He picked up the boy and handed him back to the mother.
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Suspicious circumstances
Halifax Regional Police is investigating a suspicious incident from a few days ago in Halifax.
At approximately 9:30 a.m. on August 26, a mother and her two young children left Walmart at 220 Chain Lake Drive and walked to the parking lot. As she was loading items into her vehicle, she looked up and noted a man, not known to her, holding her 2-year-old son who had been seated in the shopping cart. She reached over and removed the child from his arms and he then walked away. The incident was later reported to police.
The suspect is described as a white man in his forties, approximately 6’, with a skinny build, short blond hair, and at the time of the incident, he was wearing a baseball cap, sunglasses and dark clothing.
The mother did the right thing by reporting the matter to police and we remind citizens to call 9-1-1 immediately in similar circumstances.
The Special Investigation Section of the Integrated Criminal Investigation Division continues the investigation and are asking the man to contact police to understand his intentions for picking up the child. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or have information on the suspect is asked to contact police at 902-490-5016. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crime Stoppers by calling toll-free 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca or texting a tip - Tip 202 + your message to 274637.
17-128071