Two teen girls managed to survive a terrifying situation when they escaped an attempted kidnapping incident in Los Angeles.
Detective Efren Gutierrez said the girls, who are 13- and 16 years old, were first contacted by the kidnapper at North Hills Community Park on Sunday, March 15, according to ABC 7 Chicago. The suspect allegedly pulled up next to the teens and offered to give them a ride. However, the girls declined the offer and kept walking.
The suspect then approached the teens a second time a few blocks away, and they refused to get in his car again.
Gutierrez said that the man continued following the girls. They eventually accepted his offer for a ride when they were approached for a third time.
“He made them feel comfortable enough to get into the vehicle, which is probably a common tactic with this type of predator,” Gutierrez said. “This kind of predatory behavior does not come upon a person overnight. This is a behavior that is developed over a period of time.”
Once the girls got in his car, they told him where they were headed and the vehicle started to travel east.
“Instead of going to the location where the girls instructed him to, the suspect drove to the area of Sunburst and Lemona Avenue,” Gutierrez said. “It’s a residential neighborhood, but it’s secluded enough … not enough people or vehicle traffic around.”
The suspect locked the car doors and asked the girls if they wanted money, alcohol and drugs, according to the detective. The man then unzipped his shorts and asked the girls to perform sexual acts in exchange for money.
“The girls were frightened,” Gutierrez said. “They were able to jump out of the car. The first girl jumped out while the car was stationary, and the second girl jumped out of the car while it was in motion.”
After they escaped the car, the girls both screamed for help as the suspect drove away. Gutierrez added that neither of the girls were injured during the incident.
A suspect has not yet been arrested, while authorities have also not publicly identified who they think was behind the attempted kidnapping. However, police described him as a 21-year-old Hispanic male with black hair and brown eyes, according to KTLA. Additionally, the suspect weighs approximately 200 pounds and has tattoos on both of his arms.
Meanwhile, the suspect was said to be driving an older model four-door sedan and the license plate number is not currently known.
Detectives also said that they believe the suspect may frequent the areas of Sepulveda Boulevard and Nordhoff St, Nordhoff Street and Columbus Ave, Sunburst Street and Lemona Avenue and the North Hills Park section.
The investigation into the attempted kidnapping remains ongoing. Police have asked that anyone with information about the situation immediately contact authorities. Mission Area Detectives can be reached at (818) 838-9810 or the Mission Area Front Desk can be contacted at (818) 838-9800. Meanwhile, anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477).
