14yo girl flees after attempted kidnapping in Tullamarine, Melbourne
A 14yo schoolgirl is badly shaken after a man of Middle Eastern appearance told her to get in his van in the second disturbing incident in two weeks.
A 14-year-old girl has been left badly shaken after an attempted child abduction in Melbourne.
The schoolgirl was walking along Spring Street, in Tullamarine, on Wednesday, when a man approached her in a white van at around 5.45pm.
He pulled up alongside her and asked where she lived then told her to get in the van.
He is described as being aged in his 50s, of Middle Eastern in appearance, and spoke with a thick accent.
The girl bravely walked to a nearby park where other people were present and the man drove away.
When the girl arrived home she told her mum what had happened and her mum called the police.
Detective Leading Senior Constable Grace Botterill said the victim was badly shaken following the incident.
“It’s very distressing, an alarming incident, and I won’t go to specifics of how she is going emotionally at this time, but understandably, she’s a young woman, and this is quite frightening for her,” he told The Herald Sun.
Police are appealing for dashcam footage and CCTV from those who were in the area at the time.
It follows a similar incident two weeks ago when a man driving a white van attempted to kidnap an 11-year-old boy as he was walking home along Halley Street, in Blackburn, at about 3.45pm on November 18.
The man told the boy his mum had asked him to give the boy a lift home.
The boy did not get into the van.
Police do not believe the two incidents are related.
Anyone with information, CCTV/dashcam footage or who witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or log onto crimestoppers.com.au.
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