Attempted Child Kidnapping Wed. Second in Under Two Weeks in Gilroy

An attempted kidnapping Wednesday afternoon marks the second in a little over one week. Police say the two events are not necessarily related. 

At 3 p.m. Wednesday, an adult male attempted to lure a boy, 11, and two girls, 15 and 9, away from their residence on the 900 block of Ortega Circle, asking if they would accompany him to a local eatery.

The children declined and notified a parent, who immediately called the police.

The man was described to police as being Hispanic, 20 to 25 years old, 5’8” to 5’9” tall, approximately 160 pounds. He has shaved brown hair, a mustache, and brown eyes. He was wearing a grey T-shirt and khaki jeans.

The incident is the second attempted kidnapping in a little over a week. On July 26 at 5:35 p.m., an adult male attempted to lure a girl, 10, into his car by ordering her to walk towards him.

“At the time, there’s nothing to suggest that the two incidents are related,” said Gilroy police spokesman Chad Gallacinao.    

The suspect parked his car in front of the driveway, where the girl was retrieving items from her parents’ car. He called to the girl from his seat, before she ran inside her home, notifying her parents. They then called the Gilroy police.

The man is described an as Hispanic male adult with short balding hair or a possible crew cut, a and a goatee. He is approximately 30 or more years old years old and was wearing a white tank top with tan shorts. A sketch is attached.

The vehicle was described as a white  two-door Honda from around 1990 with only the roof painted black. The  vehicle was described as stock, with no tint after market wheels or modified exhaust. The vehicle was also described as being dirty.

In light of these incidents, police are encouraging parents to visit the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children website at www.missingkids.com to obtain educational and safety information.

“[Children’s safety] starts with parenting,” said Gallacinao.

Anyone with information regarding these crimes are urged to contact Detective Corporal Jason Kadluboski at 408-846-0350.  Those who wish to remain anonymous may call WeTip at 1-800-782-7463 (1-800-78-Crime).