Yahoo Finance Surrey Police Continue Search for 'Abducted Boy'
Police are continuing to investigate a suspected child abduction in Redhill and say they have received more than 100 calls from members of the public in less than 24 hours.
Senior investigating officer Superintendent Pete Fulton said officers had been reviewing CCTV footage of the area as part of the investigation.
They have been checking regional and national databases for missing children and have visited the train station near where the child was reportedly taken from.
He said: "In the 48 hours since the call (reporting the suspected abduction) a large number of officers have carried out an extensive and thorough investigation into this report.
"The appeal for help from the public and media has received an overwhelming reaction, which we are extremely thankful for.
"Reports of this nature are extremely rare and we are sure the public understand that when information such as this is received, we have to do all we can to find out what has happened."
A witness said they saw a boy, aged around six or seven, being taken into the side of a black van in Redstone Hill, near Redhill train station in Surrey at 4.43pm on Thursday.
The youngster is described as white and around 4ft tall, wearing a red T-shirt and navy blue jeans.
Officers say they have received 130 calls from the public and have narrowed the time frame down to between 4.25pm and 4.40pm on Thursday.
They have also been searching for any vehicles matching the description of the black VW Transporter van that the boy may have been bundled into.
The "distinct" vehicle has a 02 number plate and three alloy wheels while the front passenger side one is black and not alloy.
The BBS alloys are "unusual" as they are usually found on Golf GTIs, say police.
Officers have also released images of a van similar to the one they are looking for, which has a sliding side door.
Police insist they are "completely satisfied" that the witness is "credible", despite not receiving any reports of missing children.
They say they are working on two particular theories - either it was a child abduction or the boy knew whoever was in the van.
Police earlier on Friday released CCTV footage of a black Volkswagen Transporter with a roof rack - which has now been traced and ruled out of the investigation.
Superintendent Chris Edwards, of Surrey Police, earlier said that it appeared the child was taken "against their will", although there was "no information to suggest a struggle".
The youngster was seen "tampering" with the chain of a silver and yellow mountain bike, which was left behind at the scene of the feared abduction.
Police do not believe the bike belonged to the child, but it is still "relevant" to the investigation.
Detectives want to speak to anyone who was in the area on Thursday afternoon.
They can contact Surrey Police by calling 999 in an emergency or 101, or report it online at www.surrey.police.uk quoting Operation Bigfoot.
People can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
