In a dramatic incident caught on CCTV, a man thwarted an apparent kidnapping attempt on a three-year-old boy in São Paulo, Brazil.
The tense footage shows a suspect trailing a young child and his nanny along a sidewalk, closing in on them with unsettling intent.
As the suspect approaches, he stretches out his hand toward the boy in a manner suggesting familiarity.
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The child resists the gesture, prompting the nanny to pick him up and walk quickly in the opposite direction.
However, the suspect pursues them, and moments later, he grabs the boy’s hand.
A struggle ensues as the nanny tries to protect the child, but the suspect escalates the situation by shoving both of them into a bush and kicking the nanny to the ground.
In the chaos, the suspect briefly picks up the boy, but his attempt to flee is thwarted by the intervention of a second man who had been observing the scene from a distance.
The man sprints after the suspect, grappling with him in the middle of the road.
During the scuffle, the nanny manages to retrieve the boy while the intervening man subdues the suspect, delivering a shove and a kick as the footage comes to an end.
The unnerving events unfolded on the morning of Wednesday, November 20.
Authorities confirmed the suspect’s arrest two days later, on Friday, November 22.
He remains in custody as police investigate the attempted kidnapping.
Detectives disclosed that the suspect had recently exited a nightclub and might have been under the influence at the time of the incident.
The boy’s family has clarified that they have no connection to the suspect.
Curiously, investigators are examining a potential link between the suspect and the man who intervened.
CCTV footage reveals the suspect frequently glancing at the second man before the attack, and police suggest the manner in which he subdued the suspect indicates a level of familiarity.
The man who rescued the child was released after providing a statement to authorities, though his involvement in the incident and any possible motive remain under scrutiny.
Police are exploring several theories, including kidnapping for ransom, sexual exploitation, or human trafficking.
If convicted of attempted kidnapping, the suspect could face a prison sentence ranging from eight months to three years and three months.
A conviction for attempted human trafficking would carry a much harsher penalty, with up to eight years in prison and additional fines.
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SOURCE: Man ‘saves’ three-year-old boy from daylight kidnapping
