17/05/2024
We are seeking information about an incident where a mother and her infant child were abducted from a shopping centre in Rowville last week.
Investigators have been told the woman was threatened by a man, perceived to be:
-Asian in appearance
-aged between 20 and 35 years of age
-wearing a grey coloured hoodie, with the hood over his head, a green fluro vest over the top of the hoodie and black/grey pants with black running shoes.
The woman was exiting her silver Suzuki S Cross after parking at the Stud Park Shopping Centre supermarket car park about 6pm on Friday 10 May when she was approached by a male who threatened her with a knife and forced her back into the driver’s seat of her vehicle.
The male then got into the back seat with her child before forcing her to drive to electrical stores on South Gippsland Highway, Cranbourne and Frankston Dandenong Road, Dandenong, where he demanded she purchase Apple MacBooks at several stores while he remained in the car with the child.
The offender then drove from the Dandenong store, while the victim was forced to remain in the back seat with her child, to Robert Booth Reserve, Dandenong. He exited the car and fled north along the Dandenong Creek path carrying four MacBooks just after 8pm.
The woman and her child were not physically injured during the incident.
He was last seen carrying a shopping bag containing four Apple MacBook computers in their boxes.
Detectives have released images and CCTV of a man they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries.
Anyone who witnessed the incident, or with any other information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au