Man’s alleged attempt to abduct toddler from play area foiled by parents

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A man was sprung by parents of a little girl as he attempted to abduct the two-year-old girl in broad daylight.

Parents often enjoy letting their children play in shopping centre playgrounds just as much as the kids do.

But for two Sydney parents, that joy almost turned into a nightmare this week, when a man attempted to abduct their two-year-old daughter in broad daylight.

Anthony John McGauley was allegedly seen trying to take the toddler at 2.30pm on Wednesday from the shopping centre playground at Westfield Penrith.

The 41-year-old reportedly walked into the playground, grabbed the little girl’s hand and tried to walk off with her.

He was stopped by her parents, who then reported the incident to police.

They almost didn’t see it

The parents were sitting on a bench just outside the area and told 9News they were very lucky to avert the incident.

Just moments before the alleged abduction attempt, they had been distracted on their mobile phones watching a video.

The parents say they realised they should put away their devices and pay more attention to their daughter and it was just in the nick-of-time.

Bail denied

The man, not known to the girl, was arrested later at his home after police checked CCTV footage of the incident.

Mr McGauley was charged with “taking or detaining a child with intent to remove from parental control”.

He was denied bail when he faced Penrith local court on Thursday and will appear in court again on September 22.