Warning issued after suspicious behaviour

It’s understood a three-year-old boy was in Matalan with his grandparents when a man acting suspiciously around the young boy caused his grandfather to intervene.

The suspicious man was standing over his grandson and when he challenged the man as to what he was doing he walked away and joined another three men elsewhere in the store.

The grandfather alerted a security guard to their presence in the store and the fact one of them had been acting suspiciously around his grandson.

It’s understood that shortly after the men were reported to the in-store security guard they were spotted surrounding a mother and her child who were about to get into a lift in the Rushmere shopping complex.

The mother of the first child to be approached by the men took to Facebook that evening to alert other parents of what had happened and urge them to be vigilant when out with their children. Her post was shared more than 1,500 times.

Police issued the following statement: “Police in Craigavon are appealing for information following a report of suspicious activity in a retail outlet at Rushmere Shopping Complex.

“Between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on Monday, May 27 a man was in a clothing store with a young child (three years old) when he noticed a male person standing over the child and looking at him. The male walked away when challenged.

“The male was observed walking around a store and was joined by three other males. The males left the store after they attempted to board a lift at the same time as a female shopper and staff prevented the female from boarding.

“Police are investigating this incident and are keen to hear from anyone who was in the store at this time and observed anything untoward or any suspicious activity.

“Police would also urge the public to report suspicious activity immediately.”