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Sam Penrod Reporting Provo Police remain on alert today, after two children reported a man tried to get them into his car. Both kids resisted and were able to get away.
Police are still looking for suspects this afternoon, after two separate abduction attempts of children in Provo yesterday. In both cases there are strong similarities to the suspect description.
The latest abduction attempt involves a 13-year old girl who says a man tried to force her into his car around 5:00 pm Thursday. Police have been going door to door in the area, looking for leads in the case. The girl told police that the man drove up to her and tried to get her to get in the car.
She resisted, to the point of yelling, screaming and kicking, and got away.
Capt. Rick Healey, Provo Police Dept: "She was able to kick and get away from him and get completely away, so she's in good shape. We are interviewing her right now, trying to get as much information as we can from her. Some of the things she's telling us are matching up with the other things."
And that is what police say parents should talk to their kids about-- and make reference to a young girl who was kidnapped and killed in Florida, the abduction was caught on surveillance tape.
"Capt. Rick Healey, Provo Police Dept: "You've seen the video of the girl behind the car wash being led away by the abductor, we don't want that to happen, we want as much screaming and loud noise and kicking as we can get."
Those similarities include an abduction attempt Thursday morning near Timpanogos Elementary in Provo. A 12-year old boy told police a man tried to grab him and force him into his car. He too fought back and was able to get away.
Suspect/ Vehicle Description
- Tan/brown colored Cadillac
- Tinted windows
- Male, 40 years old
- Long blonde hair with sideburns
The suspect was driving a four door Cadillac, about ten years old, either brown or tan in color. He is described as about 40 years old with blonde hair.
Police say they are following some good leads, but so far, they have no suspects.
The best safety measure against something like this is to make sure your children aren't walking alone.
The Provo School District offers defense training for students and say stranger danger is something every parent should frequently talk with their children about.
Greg Hudnall, Provo School District: "Our biggest message is for parents to meet with their kids and remind them to be careful, to walk in pairs if they are going to walk to school, make sure they are with a group of students, they are not walking by themselves and to avoid strangers so something like this can't happen again."
