By Licec Bastian
Journal Staff Writer

Police issued another stern warning to Bahamians and residents regarding false
reports being made to the police on serious matters. For the second time in a week,
police have had to report that incidents reported to them were in fact not as reported.
On Tuesday, August 29, what was reported as the quick thinking and actions of a
mother of a two-year-old girl, to thwart an attempt by a 50-year-old man to abduct her
child turned out not to be the case.
The accused man was arrested by police shortly after 9 a.m. at a plaza in
Southwestern New Providence, a police report indicated.
Police said the mother and her daughter were at a local supermarket, when the man,
unknown to them, attempted to push the cart, that the child was sitting in, away from
the mother and remove the little girl. However, the mother was able to hold on to her
child and drew the attention of the store’s security who alerted authorities.
But police on Wednesday evening reported that “the investigations into the alleged
attempted child stealing of a two-year-old female toddler that was reported to police
on Tuesday, August 29, 2023 has been completed. A thorough investigation, coupled
with the use of surveillance footage from the immediate area of the reported incident,
confirmed that the incident is NOT as reported,” the police report said.
Just last Thursday, police had to issue a similar report after a 12-year-old girl in the
Coconut Grove area alleged that while on Fourth Street, she was approached by a
light skin, bald head male, dressed in a blue hooded jacket, who attempted to lure or
abduct her.
The reports from the pre-teen caused a raucous as residents in the area assumed it was
the recently released sex offender Sidney Cooper and descended at his residence on
Fifth Street with weapons in hand.
Police had noted on the day in question that the alleged perpetrator was NOT Sidney
Cooper, whom police also said was taken from his residence, escorted by police, into
protective custody.

A day later, police reported that “after a thorough investigation, coupled with the use
of advance technology and surveillance from the immediate area of the reported
incident, it has been concluded that the incident is NOT as reported.”
Police also advised parents to pay close attention to their children at all times and to
seek the assistance of a responsible adult when unable to watch or accompany their
children.