A man has been charged with assault and property offences after a 5-year-old child was assaulted in a shopping centre in Sydney's west yesterday.
Police will allege in Court about 2.40pm (Sunday 31 January 2021), a 30-year-old man went to Lidcombe Shopping Centre and tried to buy a mobile phone.
When the store attendant was unable to process the purchase due to the transaction being declined, the man ran from the store with the phone.
The store attendant was assisted by members of the public, who chased after the man and detained him for a short time.
The man managed to break free from the citizen's arrest, and ran off through the centre, colliding with a five-year-old boy in the process.
The force of the impact caused the young boy to lose consciousness for a short time.
The man was again detained by bystanders until the arrival of police.
The boy was treated at the scene by Ambulance paramedics before being taken to Westmead Children's Hospital for treatment. He is reported to be in a stable condition with minor head injuries.
After being taken to hospital for treatment for injuries, the 30-year-old man was arrested and taken to Auburn Police Station. He was charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, stealing, dishonestly obtain property by deception and two counts of goods in custody.
The man was refused bail to appear at Burwood Local Court today (Monday 1 February 2021).
