Singapore Chinatown kidnap attempt did not occur: police

Police officers at work in Singapore on July 18, 2012. The police have come out to reassure parents that the alleged ...

The police have come out to reassure parents that an alleged attempted child kidnapping at Chinatown did not actually occur. Details of the alleged kidnap attempt was published in online parenting magazine theAsianparent. A statement on the Singapore Police Force Facebook page read, 'Police confirm that the alleged attempted child kidnapping at Chinatown, reported by theAsianparent in their online article, did not occur. The Police have contacted theAsianparent to remind them to verify incidents of such nature with the Police before publication, and theAsianparent has removed the article. 'Police would also like to take this opportunity to advise against spreading unsubstantiated information which may generate unnecessary public alarm.'In its report, theAsianparent had said that a mother and her toddler, who was seated in a stroller, had been shopping in Chinatown. During the trip, the mother confronted a Chinese man who was allegedly trying to steal her phone. During the commotion, the wife of the man apparently pushed the stroller with the toddler still strapped in, the report said.The mother 'cried and shouted for help'. Passers-by reportedly helped grab the Chiense woman before she could head off with the stroller and the toddler.