A man tried to grab an eight-year-old boy from a passing car as he made his way to school with his mum, police said.
The youngster was walking along a pavement in Yeovil, Somerset, on Monday morning when the would-be kidnapper jumped from the driver's seat of the vehicle.
Police said the man then fled as the mum, who was also pushing another young child in a pushchair at the time, began screaming.
The protective mum held onto the child and shouted, prompting the kidnapper to swiftly get back into the car - described as a "dirty white estate" and drive off.
Avon and Somerset Police said detectives were hunting the perpetrator, and released a description of the man who is thought to be in his 30s.
According to the mum's description, the man was about 5ft 8ins tall and of medium build with broad shoulders.
He had olive brown skin, dark-coloured hair in a quiff style and a beard, police added, while the car was "a dirty white estate with tinted rear windows".
A police spokesperson said: "Officers have carried out house-to-house and CCTV enquiries and are in touch with the boy’s school, while reassurance patrols have been carried out.
"No further incidents have been reported, but please do contact your neighbourhood officers with any concerns."
