Retail chain Checkers has vowed to investigate attempts to snatch Abbigail Combrinck (3) from her grandmother at its Raslouw outlet on Saturday.
Jennifer van der Westhuizen from Checkers’ head office said the matter had not been reported to the store.
“We will gladly provide assistance with any investigation into the matter,” she said.
Desire, Abbigail’s mother said she would report the matter to the police and the store.
Abbigail was in Checkers with her grandmother, mother and father when a strange man almost snatched the toddler.
Desire said she noticed her mother, walking a few steps behind, was clinging on to Abbigail and asked what had happened.
“She told me a man who had been following us had tried to force himself between her mother and Abbigail.
She said the man was with another who had turned around at the entrance and walked back to a car.
“After my mother told me this, I did not take any chances and took my daughter and held on tightly to her. When we walked out of the shop the guy tried for a second time to grab my daughter. He almost had his hands on her when I turned and looked him directly in the eyes,” she said.
“I called my husband, David who had a few words with the guy but the man pretended nothing had happened.”
She said the man then walked off, got into a dark blue car and drove away.
“This was very scary because you read and hear about it happening to other people. Everything just happened so fast. Had it not been for my mom, I would not have known what was happening.”
Desire complained no one tried to help —not even security guards at the centre who she said could see what was happening.
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