Crime & Safety

Man Tries to Kidnap Teenager in Venice

The same man is believed to be involved in an incident in Torrance, say police.

Police Friday were warning the public to be on the lookout for a man who tried to kidnap a 13-year-old girl in Venice.

The man approached the girl about 10:30 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Millwood Avenue and asked if she needed a ride, according to a Los Angeles Police Department statement.

The suspect then approached the girl from behind and grabbed her by an arm, police said.

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The girl kicked the man, at which time he let go of her, and she ran away, observing the suspect driving away as she fled, according to police.

The suspect is described as 35-40 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, about 150 pounds with a receding hairline. The vehicle was described as a white four-door sedan.

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A composite of the man was drawn up, and it closely resembles one of a suspect wanted by Torrance police in connection with a child annoying incident that took place last month.

A vehicle description in the Torrance case also matches the one from the Venice attempted kidnapping, police said.

In the Torrance case, a 16-year-old girl was standing on the corner of Artesia and Crenshaw boulevards while on her way to North High School around 7 a.m. on Oct. 16 when a man drove up and ordered her to get in his car, according to Torrance police.

As the girl continued walking south on Crenshaw, the suspect drove up and blocked her path and again ordered the teen to get in the car, at one point offering to pay her, police said.

She continued walking, soon meeting up with a friend, and did not see the suspect's last direction of travel, police said.

Anyone with information about the suspect was urged to contact Pacific area robbery detectives at (310) 482-6313 or Torrance police at (310) 328-3456.

- City News Service


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