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Two recent attempts to kidnap teen girls have enough similarities that San Dimas Sheriff’s Station investigators believe they may involve the same suspect and are seeking the public's help in providing any information that could possibly help identify the suspect. In both cases:

1. Both locations were residential neighborhoods within a mile of each other in Azuza (unincorporated community).

2. The victims were both Hispanic teen girls (aged 14, 16).

3. The suspect was described as a Hispanic man, 20's-30's with similar body type and facial features. One said he had long hair, the second incident was short hair. (see LASD artist sketches).

4. The suspect's truck was described as a small white 2-door pickup truck (one said possibly a Nissan Frontier and ther other said it had a black box in the back).

5. One happened at 1:00PM (on a Thursday) and the other at 2:20PM (on a Saturday).

6. In each case the suspect allegedly drove up alongside in the pickup truck and attempted to grab the victim.


Below are more details about each of the two cases:

* Attempt Kidnap of 14-Year Old Girl, Azusa, Aug. 16, 2012

A 14-year old Hispanic girl was walking in a residential community on Thursday, 08/16/2012 at 1:00PM.

When she walked near Orange Crest Avenue, north of Citrus Edge Street, Azusa (unincorporated area), she saw a man in his mid-30's driving a small white 2-door Nissan pickup truck (possibly a Nissan Frontier) pull up next to her.

The suspect reached out from his truck and attempted to grab the victim. She managed to escape the suspect’s grasp and ran away. The suspect then drove away and was last seen driving westbound on Citrus Edge Street from Orangecrest Avenue.

Suspect description:

Male Hispanic, mid-30's, short dark hair

Suspect vehicle: Small white 2-door Nissan pickup truck (possibly a Nissan Frontier)

If you have any information related to these cases, contact Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, San Dimas Station Detectives Tim Ruggiero or Alan Wetters at (909) 450-2700. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org




* Attempt Kidnap of 16-Year Old Girl, Azusa, July 28, 2012

A 16-year old Hispanic girl was walking in a residential community on Saturday, 07/28/2012 at 2:20PM. Her two friends, aged 13 and 15 years old were walking nearby.

When they walked near Orkney Street and Fenimore Street, Azusa (unincorporated area), they saw a man in his mid-20's driving a small white pickup truck pull up next to the 16-year old victim.

The suspect reached out from his truck with his left arm and wrapped his arm around the victim’s buttocks area and pulled the victim towards him. The victim punched the suspect on the left side of his face, broke free and ran from the suspect. The suspect then drove away.

Suspect description:

Male Hispanic, mid-20's, long dark hair protruding from under a black baseball cap with a green bill bent upward, sunglasses.

Suspect vehicle: Small white 2-door pickup truck, with a black box in the back (Possibly a mesh tool box with a zipper and orange logo on the front of the box).

If you have any information related to these cases, contact Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, San Dimas Station Detectives Tim Ruggiero or Alan Wetters at (909) 450-2700. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org

SAFETY TIPS:

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (http://www.missingkids.com) offers the following safety tips for parents to discuss with their youngsters:

Travel with a friend, or better yet, a group of friends when riding your bike or walking to or from school or other destinations.

If a stranger offers you a ride somewhere, say no, and run away. Adults should define "stranger" and give safety tip examples to help youth, especially young ones, know what you mean.

If someone follows you on foot, get away as quickly as you can. Go to someone's house you know, or run to other people, or just run away.

If someone is following you in a car, turn around and go in the opposite direction or take a path where a car would not go.

Never leave school or any other extracurricular activity or event with someone who makes you feel uncomfortable. Moms or dads should tell their youngster that it is okay in these circumstances to not ride home, but that also means adults should have an established communications method along with these safety tip guidelines so that the kid does not end up stranded or alone.

If a stranger tells you that there is an emergency or that a family member is hurt or that a pet has been in an accident, always check with your mom or dad or other trusted adults. This is a common trick used by many molesters or kidnappers.

For more information about safety tips contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department www.lasd.org , your local police or sheriff's station, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at http://www.missingkids.com

MORE SFAETY TIPS:

Adults should establish "safe houses" where kids feel comfortable in knocking on their door at any time a situation warrants it. Be sure to get approval from the neighbors/homeowners first before designating a home as a "safe house." If possible, have a neighborhood safety tip meeting and have residents agree to watch after one another.

Parents should be cautious about blatant use of a child's name on a back pack or jacket. Kids sometimes believe that a person can't be a stranger if they know them by name, when the reality is that their name was easily readable on their attire or the individual heard a youngster's name mentioned.

Adults should understand that boys are at just as greatest of risk as girls. It is a common safety tip misconception that child molesters or perpetrators are typically men and seek only girls. Molesters come in all ages and both genders, and their victims can be of either sex.

Parents should begin reinforcing these safety tips as soon as a kid is old enough to understand, and above all, ensure that their child feels comfortable enough in discussing these issues, their concerns or fears, or any potentially inappropriate events that have possibly transpired. Awareness of these safety tips can help kids be less susceptible to any stranger dangers.



Captain Mike Parker
Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau – Newsroom
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
(323) 267-4800
http://www.lasd.org
[email protected]
Twitter @LASD_News http://twitter.com/#!/LASD_News
http://www.facebook.com/LosAngelesCountySheriffsDepartment


Leroy D. Baca, Sheriff
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

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