Police in Texas are searching for suspected kidnappers following two incidents in which unknown men followed or approached small children in broad daylight.
The incidents, the first of which occurred in Richardson, both occurred on Monday, the other occurred in Dallas.
In Richardson, a young girl was on her way to her high school when she noticed a stranger driving past her several times and staring at her.
In a panic, the unknown girl ran to a property near the road and found a hiding place.
Homeowner Shane Burke caught the young girl on his security camera hiding behind his vehicle to escape before showing up at his door.
In panic, the still unknown girl ran to a property near the road and found a hiding place, seen here
Homeowner Shane Burke caught the young girl on his security camera hiding behind his vehicle to get away from the vehicle before appearing at his door
Speaking to NBCDFW, Burke said he was grateful to be able to work from home Monday morning.
He told the outlet: “She initially hid behind our car to see if he was coming back and sure enough he was coming very slowly and she was very clever here too.”
“She did everything right. When I opened the door, she started to explain that someone had followed her. She was shaking all over.”
He continued: “She didn’t say, ‘I don’t think he said anything,’ she said, ‘He keeps driving up and down the road very slowly and staring at me and I don’t feel comfortable,’ and that’s true.”
Burke’s wife drove the young girl to school while he contacted police, who arrived at the scene.
He added: “I don’t know what this guy’s motive was or what he was up to, but she said she didn’t know him.”
“He wasn’t an ex-boyfriend, a family member or anything, so whatever. This is serious. This was close. Thankfully she did everything right.”
According to RPD spokesman Mike Wieczorek, the suspect vehicle is a black or dark blue four-door Toyota Corolla S (model year 2014-2016).
The only physical description police have says the man is bald, between 20 and 30 years old, has dark skin and may be Latino.
Hours after the incident in Richardson, Dallas police responded to an attempted kidnapping in the far north of the city
In the terrifying clip, a man can be seen exiting the vehicle and attacking her son Jay, who quickly runs back to his house before the man runs back to his car
Hours after the incident in Richardson, Dallas police responded to an attempted kidnapping in the far north of the city.
Genna Skolnik said her sons invited their friends to a back-to-school playdate and told them to stick together and never split up.
Home surveillance footage then showed two vehicles pulling up next to the boys, including a white SUV that police described as a Toyota Four Runner.
According to the youths, the men in one of the cars asked them to “come and look at our car.” One of them became frightened and suggested that the whole group run away.
In the terrifying clip, a man is seen exiting the vehicle and attacking her son, Jay, who quickly runs back to his house before the man runs back to his car.
Speaking to the outlet, Skolnik said, “All of a sudden I hear the door fly open and I hear: Jay is being kidnapped. Jay is being kidnapped.”
“The guys in the car told them, ‘Hey, come talk to us, look at our car.’ One of the guys was totally scared and said, ‘We have to go.'”
Genna Skolnik said her sons invited their friends to a back-to-school playdate and told them to stay together and never split up
She continued: “They called out to my son and said, ‘Hey, we have a football player in the car. You should come and talk to him.’
“My son said, ‘I don’t talk to strangers!’ and they backed up the car and Jonathan ran away.”
Skolnik managed to take a photo of one of the vehicle’s license plates
Unbelievable, but then a passenger in a white T-shirt and shorts is seen getting out of the SUV and running after her son before turning around after noticing the adult with a cell phone in her hand.
Skolnik managed to take a photo of the vehicle’s license plate; Dallas police are now investigating the incident.
Burke added that the young girl’s situational awareness and quick reaction were admirable.
Skolnik managed to snap a photo of the vehicle’s license plate (see here); Dallas police are currently investigating the incident.
He said: ” On the way to school, pay attention to your surroundings and do not stare at your phone.
“If someone is following you, pacing, staring at you, call 911 or get help from an adult, do whatever. Do not get in that car under any circumstances. Stay away.”
He added: “These children mean a lot to all of us in this community, and when someone does something like this while they are at school, the whole community is there.
“We will find out who you are and what you are up to. This is outrageous. You cannot just come into our neighborhood and do something like this. We will not tolerate it.”
Dallas and Richardson police told NBC 5 there was no evidence that the cases involved the same suspects or that there was a connection.
