A man grabbed the hand of a two-year-old boy and said "come on" in an attempt to abduct him from his mum, say police.
The mum and her son were walking along a street with two other children and another woman when the terrifying incident happened in Milton Keynes, Bucks.
The man, believed to be in his mid-20s, walked past the group before grabbing the boy's hand at about 4.45pm on Tuesday.
Police said the boy's mum took hold of her son and pulled him towards her, and the suspect walked away from the group.
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A Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: "At around 4.45pm [on Tuesday], a two-year-old child was walking along Broadlands, Netherfield, with his mother, two other children and another woman.
"The offender walked past the group, before holding the hand of the two-year-old and saying ‘come on’.
"The mother then took hold of the child and pulled him towards her, before the offender walked off, in the direction of a grass area towards Farthing Grove.
"The offender is described as a black man aged in his mid-twenties, around 5ft 4ins tall and of a skinny build.
"He was dressed in a black coloured jacket and jogging bottoms, and had on his back a black rucksack. He also wore a dark coloured woolly hat."
Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Laura Herrington, of Milton Keynes police station, said: “I am appealing for witnesses to this incident, it occurred in a public area at a time when I believe it is likely that people who were in the area may have seen what happened.
“If anyone believes they were in the area at around this time and thinks they saw something, or has any information regarding this incident, I would ask them to contact Thames Valley Police.
“Thankfully there were no injuries during this incident and the boy remained with his mother, but I am still appealing for help in locating witnesses to the incident, or anyone who recognises the description of the offender.
“While I appreciate that incidents such as this will cause concern, I would like to reassure the public that we are investigating this incident thoroughly. You may also notice an increased police presence as we carrying out additional patrols in the area."
