Mickleham attempted abduction: Woman followed, grabbed from bus stop

Two men smiled and waved at a girl waiting for a bus in Craigieburn before they allegedly followed her home and tried to abduct her.

Two men allegedly smiled and waved at a teenage girl waiting for a bus in Craigieburn before following her home and trying to abduct her.

Police have released CCTV to help identify the culprits responsible for following the 19-year-old victim for more than 20 minutes on her bus route home on Australia Day before trying to abduct her.

Speaking to the media at the Broadmeadows police station on Thursday, Senior Constable Jennifer Lay said the men first waved at the young woman while she waited at a bus stop on Lygon Drive, Craigieburn, at 8.20pm.

Senior Constable Lay said the car did multiple laps around the victim before the passenger got out of the car and lingered near the bus stop where she waited.

When the victim got on the bus at 8.43pm the two men, who police said drove a black Chrysler 300C with black and white plates, followed the young victim to her final destination at Balmain Rd in Mickleham – a journey of just under 10km.

When she got off the bus and recognised the car and the passengers the woman ran down Balmain Rd, but not before she was grabbed by a man who is understood to have said “come with me,” and “I’ve got her.”

Luckily the victim was able to break free from the attacker, and ran to a home on Burwood St where she was able to get help.

The man, who police said was in his mid-30s, is understood to have a dark complexion and a muscular build.

Police said he wore a black, white and blue striped polo shirt, baggy pants and runners.

Both the driver, who was wearing a red snapback cap, and the passenger had beards, police said.

Senior Constable Lay said the victim was “quite scared” and that she “just wanted to know why she was targeted.”

She said investigators were pursuing multiple leads, but urged any members of the public with information to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.