Police chiefs have admitted they should have acted more promptly after a young mum reported she had fought off a woman trying to steal her baby.
A Leicestershire Police spokesperson said their response fell well below their expected standards after Sarah Hunt called to report the attempted abduction of her seven-month-old daughter Amelia.
Ms Hunt called the police shortly after a woman had tried to snatch her daughter from inside her home in Leicester city centre at 10am last Saturday.
Police officers did not visit the 28-year-old until last night - five days after the disturbing incident.
The police spokesperson said: "Leicestershire Police received a call from a member of the public reporting a woman had entered her address and asked her to hand over her child.
"The woman had since left the premises and no one was injured and the baby wasn't harmed.
"We did not initially attend the premises and on this occasion our response fell well below what we would have expected for a report of this nature and we should have acted more promptly.
"We are reviewing how we responded to this incident to ensure any lessons that can be learned are, and to ensure we respond to all incidents in the most appropriate way.
"We have since visited the victim, taken a detailed statement, and are currently progressing a number of lines of enquiry."
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Ms Hunt, who lives in a second-floor flat in a complex in Junior Street with her fiance James Demorais, said she was shocked by how long it took the police to speak to her.
She said: "It was very scary experience and this woman really wanted to take my baby.
"If I had not have fought her off as I did she would have taken Ameila.
"If that is not a matter to be taken seriously by the police then I don't know what is."
Ms Hunt said an Asian woman grabbed hold of the pushchair Ameila was in after she answered a knock on her front door.
She said she grappled with her, punched her arm before she managed to shut the door.
Ms Hunt said: "It is right that the police are going to investigate what happened when I reported this woman.
"I hope this does not slow down their attempts to catch this woman.
"As far as I am concerned she is danger and is still out there. she needs to be caught as soon as possible before she strikes again.
"Who knows may be next time she will manage to grab a baby and make off with the child. That does not bear thinking about."