Girl walking home from school escapes stranger trying to kidnap her, CA cops say
The search is on for a man accused of trying to kidnap a girl walking home from school, California police say.
The child told officers that as she was leaving school shortly after 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, she walked by a man seated in his parked gray sedan, the Westminster Police Department said in an Oct. 3 news release.
The girl said the man asked her for directions, and as she responded, he exposed himself, according to police.
“He then exited his vehicle, blocked her path, and repeatedly urged her to get in, attempting to prevent her from leaving,” police said in a Facebook post.
At some point during the altercation, police said the man touched the girl.
After escaping the man, the girl rushed toward a woman who was with her child, police said, adding that the man re-entered his car and drove away.
Shortly after, the woman to whom the girl had run also left, police said.
Police said they are looking to speak to the woman, as well as any potential witnesses.
The man is described as 5 feet, 7 inches tall, and 200 pounds, police said. At the time of the incident, he was “wearing a face mask that covered his mouth and nose and had printed dinosaurs on it.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 714-548-3767.
Westminster is about a 30-mile drive southeast from Los Angeles.
This story was originally published October 7, 2025 at 3:57 PM with the headline "Girl walking home from school escapes stranger trying to kidnap her, CA cops say."
