Police rule out VW Transporter suspected in Redhill child abduction as helicopter joins search

Surrey Police has ruled out a blacked out Volkswagen Transporter van as the suspected getaway vehicle in a child abduction investigation in Redhill. An urgent search was launched on Thursday afternoon (25 August) after a member of the public phoned police to report a six-year-old boy was bundled into the back of a windowless van along Redstone Hill.

A helicopter and police dogs have joined a large police operation involving a "significant number of officers" to find the boy, who is described as white, between six and seven years old and approximately four feet tall.

Police initially appealed for witnesses of a black VW van but have since traced the owner and ruled out the van as a potential getaway vehicle.

No missing person report has been filed and police are yet to identify the child but detectives are treat the incident seriously "and will do so until the full circumstances have been established".

Police are have said it is "extremely important" that people who know anyone who owns a similar van to contact them as well as people who saw a bike that supposedly belonged to the boy left at the scene.

The VW van is described as having no side writing or rear windows, but with sliding side doors, three BBS-make alloy wheels – with the front nearside missing –and with chrome sidesteps. Police do not have the full number plate but know it contains "02".

"We would also like to speak to anyone who was on Redstone Hill at around 4:30 to 5pm yesterday or anyone who recognises the mountain bike and may have seen who was riding it yesterday afternoon," a Surrey Police statement said.

"Local residents may be particularly concerned, but we hope our response reassures people how seriously we take any such reports of suspicious behaviour – our officers continue to work on this investigation and we will update on any further developments."