A Toronto mother managed to thwart the attempted abduction of her daughter by hunching over and wrapping her arms around the child, police said Friday. A 12-year-old girl and 14-year-old boy face numerous charges.
The incident unfolded late Thursday night, Toronto police said, when a girl and boy allegedly approached the woman in Scarborough, physically assaulted her and tried to make off with her daughter.
"I'm scared," the 29-year-old mother told CTV Toronto's Austin Delaney. "They wanted my baby."
When speaking to media Friday, the mother covered her face, because she feared her toddler was still in danger.
"They said they were coming back, and I'm scared, very scared," she said.
The woman was walking with her toddler at 10:45 p.m. on Guildwood Parkway, southwest of Kingston Road when she was attacked. She was on her way home from Scarborough's Guildwood GO Station.
A boy and girl approached the mother and her child from behind, and allegedly told her to hand over her 21-month-old toddler, along with her cellphone, and money.
Police say the two suspects knocked her to the ground, and then proceeded to kick and punch her.
In a message on Twitter, police said the mother "turtled" around her daughter, hunching over to protect her during the attack.
As the attack continued, the mother fell backwards and the girl allegedly grabbed the toddler. The mother managed to grab her daughter back, but was kicked and punched again before the pair fled, police said. Police say the boy also threatened to kick the baby in the head.
They were unable to kidnap the baby, but robbed the woman before running off, police said.
The mother called police to the scene immediately after the attack.
Both mother and baby were transported to hospital with minor injuries. They have since been released, and police said the mother is tired but her physical injuries are minor. The toddler was uninjured, police said at a news conference Friday afternoon.
A girl was arrested fleeing the scene, while the boy was found nearby about an hour later with the help of a canine unit. Both suspects are currently being held in custody.
Police recovered all of the stolen property upon arrest.
"This is a very alarming situation," Toronto Police Insp. Arthur Little said at a news conference Friday afternoon.
"The fact that it was committed, allegedly at this time, by a 12-year-old female suspect and a 14-year-old male suspect is a major cause for concern."
Little said police had been in contact with the mothers of both of the suspects.
Toronto Police Staff Sgt. Peter Moreira was seen dropping off a teddy bear at the apartment building where the assault happened later on Friday morning.
Speaking to reporters, he said the teddy bear was a gift from the officers at 43 Division.
"It was our way of showing her that we're obviously thinking of her and her recovery."
According to a statement issued Friday morning, police said the pair have been charged in connection with a second robbery that was reported earlier in the night.
At approximately 7:45 p.m., a 38-year-old woman was walking in the area of Markham Road and Lawrence Avenue East when she was approached by a boy and girl, the statement said.
The pair allegedly pushed her down, tore off her purse, and ran. The victim flagged down a passerby who called police, but they were unable to track down the suspects in the area.
As a result of the incidents, the pair face numerous charges relating to attempted abduction and robbery, police said.
The girl is charged with abduction of a person under 14, assault, two counts of robbery, and one count of uttering threats.
The boy is charged with abduction of a person under 14, assault, two counts of robbery, two counts of uttering threats, and two counts of failing to comply with police. He's also facing two counts of breach of recognizance, meaning he faced some charges previously.
The suspects, who cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, appeared in court Friday.
