A woman was heard shouting as she was dragged across a road and bundled into a car in a possible ‘kidnapping’.
The terrifying incident took place on Sunday evening in West Bromwich, just one hour after police received reports of another potential kidnapping 30 miles away in Coventry.
There is no suggestion the incidents are linked, but detectives have launched desperate appeals to track the women down.
The first incident in Cheylesmore, a suburb in southern Coventry, was reported at 8.40pm.
A woman was heard screaming from inside a van at the junction between Quinton Park and Blondvil Street as it drove away.
Witnesses said the white van was being driven by a bare-chested man and the woman was in distress.
On Twitter, police said it was being treated as a ‘potential kidnap’.
‘It’s not clear what’s happened and there could be an innocent explanation but our priority is making sure if a woman was in the van she’s safe and well,’ officers wrote.
An hour later in West Bromwich, a woman was reportedly waiting at a bus stop in Hill Top when she was approached by a man.
He spoke to her before dragging her across the road and into a grey BMW being driven by another man.
A witness said the woman was distressed and shouting as she was bundled into the vehicle.
In a statement, West Midlands police said it has ‘serious concerns’ for the woman’s well-being.
‘We’ve launched an investigation to identify and find the woman, and trace the men and car involved,’ the force said.
‘The man who approached the woman is described as white, bald and in his 40s. We believe the car was a grey BMW X5.
‘We’re appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and may have witnessed what happened – or any motorists with dash-cam who may have caught the vehicle on video – to get in touch.’
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