Three men in black van try to snatch 11-year-old boy from London street

Three men in black van try to snatch 11-year-old boy from London street then give chase before teens step in to save him

  • Sherise Blackman said son was walking home in Bromley when he was stopped
  • A man in a black van ‘asked where her son was going and offered him a lift’
  • Boy ran away to a basketball court and two teenagers blocked the entrance

Three men with a black van tried to snatch an 11-year-old boy from a London street before chasing the youngster to a basketball court where older teenagers saved him.

Sherise Blackman, the boy’s mother, said her son was walking home from school in Beckenham, Bromley, when two men on the street and another man in a black van tried to grab him on Friday. 

She said her son got off at a different bus stop than usual that day because the bus was on diversion.  

After the bus drove off, a black van pulled up alongside the boy and the man inside asked where he was going and offered him a lift home, Ms Blackman said. 

Sherise Blackman, the boy’s mother, said her son was walking home from school in Beckenham, Bromley, when two men on the street and another man in a black van tried to grab him on Friday. Pictured: Croydon Road Recreation Ground where the boy found help

Sensing danger, the boy started to run away but the two other men started chasing him. 

He ran into Croydon Road Recreation Ground to find help when he spotted two teenagers playing basketball. 

Ms Blackman said the two men followed her son toward the court and told the teenage boys he was with them, at which point the boy said he didn’t know them. 

She added that the two teenagers then blocked the entrance and told her son to run home.  

Ms Blackman told the Standard: ‘He did say ”I’m going home” and the man then said ”hop in, I’ll give you a ride” at which point my son was like that’s not normal and he kind of started to hop foot it away.’ 

‘He saw the basketball court and saw two teenage boys playing basketball and he ran in there behind them.

The boy ran into Croydon Road Recreation Ground (pictured) to find help when he spotted two teenagers playing basketball

The boy ran into Croydon Road Recreation Ground (pictured) to find help when he spotted two teenagers playing basketball

‘The two men then followed him into the tennis court and said to the teenage boys ”oh he’s with us” at which point he [Ms Blackman’s son] said ”I don’t know them”.’

The teenagers then blocked the entrance to the basketball court and told Ms Blackman’s son to run home, she said. 

As soon as he arrived home, Ms Blackman’s son told his parents what had happened.   

She immediately called the police and was told they would visit her home on Sunday, May 2. 

Ms Blackman said she felt as though the police were trying to ‘fob it off’ when they took a statement from her son and that no suspects have been identified.  

The Metropolitan Police said: ‘Police were called at 16:40hrs on Friday, 30 April to reports of two males acting suspiciously in Whitmore Road, Beckenham. Officers arranged to take a statement from the complainant. No suspects were identified.

‘The investigation has been closed; an intelligence report was recorded and should any further evidential opportunities arise this decision will be reviewed.’