Nine-year-old boy was 'bleeding and in tears' after he was 'locked in a cage by a shopkeeper for stealing a bottle of Coke'
- A nine-year-old boy was allegedly locked in a supermarket store room in Perth
- Staff caught the boy stealing a bottle of Coke and allegedly assaulted him
- Family claim the boy was forced to smash a window in an attempt to escape
An Aboriginal boy who was allegedly assaulted and locked in a supermarket store room was found bleeding and in tears, according to his family.
The nine-year-old was at a supermarket in Perth's southeast with his cousins last weekend when staff claimed they caught the nine-year-old stealing a bottle of Coke.
His family told Perth Now he was 'caged' in the storeroom and was bleeding from where he had cut himself in an attempt to escape from a small window.
The boy (pictured), 9, had been at the store in Perth’s southwest with a couple of other children last weekend when the incident happened
According to the publication, the boy was locked inside the storeroom for more than 20 minutes.
He was distraught when he was finally freed.
The boy's mother told Daily Mail Australia he was dragged around the store and bashed against walls before being locked in the store room out the back.
His cousins ran home to alert adults about what had happened.
The boy smashed a window in an effort to escape, slicing his arm as he attempted to climb out.
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The boy was eventually freed after his aunt rushed to the store and demanded he be allowed to leave.
He was later taken to hospital where his injury was treated.
His mother said the boy has been left traumatised.
'He was crying. He's been wetting the bed, he never, ever wets the bed.'
Police spoke to supermarket staff about an alleged incident on Tuesday.
A spokeswoman for the supermarket refused to comment, saying it was now a matter for police.
Western Australian police spokeswoman said it was a complex investigation and inquiries were continuing.
