SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth – The Malvern police have taken a man into custody for allegedly abducting and attempting to sexually assault a three-year-old girl.

Reports are that at about midnight Friday, the toddler’s parents left her asleep with older children in their home at Ivor Cottage, just outside Malvern. The parents reportedly visited a nearby shop.

On their return home some time later, they found the front door of the house open and the three-year-old missing.

An alarm was raised and residents launched a frantic search which resulted in the toddler being found about a mile away from home in the company of the suspect. The man reportedly ran on the arrival of the residents. The residents reportedly alleged that the underwear of the toddler had been removed.

Early Saturday, residents are said to have captured the suspect and turned him over to the police.