The woman charged with abducting a four-year-old girl outside Jackson Square on Wednesday afternoon had what police are calling an "interaction" with at least one other child earlier this week.

Police arrested a 19-year-old woman Wednesday after a child was grabbed from her mother's side near King Street West and Summers Lane around 11 a.m. The mom was able to get her little girl back after two women intervened after hearing "hysterical" screams.

Through their investigation, police say they learned Thursday afternoon of an "incident" that occurred just before 5 p.m. Monday on Wilson Street near Wilson Medical Centre involving the same 19-year-old woman and another young girl.

In that case, the woman had an "interaction" with a girl between Mary Street and Ferguson Avenue North, said Det. Sgt. Mike Cunliffe.

Police also learned of another incident involving a small child and who they believe to be the same woman that took place around 9:50 a.m. Wednesday at the corner of King and James streets.

In both of these cases, police have heard from witnesses but not the possible victims themselves. Cunliffe said he could not comment on whether they were attempted abductions until police speak to the complainants.

"It's very, very important that those people come forward and speak to us because we need to ensure that this person gets the help that she requires and goes through the criminal system properly," he said.

Police have charged Angel Charbonneau of Hamilton with child abduction following Wednesday's incident, which involved a mother and her daughter standing on the sidewalk on the north side of the street outside of the downtown mall.

Charbonneau appeared in court for a bail hearing Thursday morning but was denied bail. Cunliffe said she was previously known to police but could not specify how.

In Wednesday's interrupted abduction, police say Charbonneau came up behind the mom and her daughter, latched on to the child and tried to flee, police said.

After the mom got her child back, police say Charbonneau started walking east on King where she was arrested by police.

While police could not put a time frame on how long the abduction took, Cunliffe said it happened very quickly.

Cunliffe said he does not believe the victim and the accused are known to each other.

He said he could not comment on the woman's motivation because it is part of the investigation nor could he comment on whether she had a weapon when she was arrested.

Despite what's transpired over the past four days, Cunliffe said incidents like these are not common.

"In my 28 years of policing, I don't recall any other incidents similar to this," he said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Const. Alex Mendes or Det. Lisa Chambers at 905-546-3817.

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- Hamilton woman charged with child abduction after allegedly grabbing 4-year-old outside Jackson Square