Tehachapi - Possible Attempted Child Abduction
NEWS RELEASE
Prepared By: Jeff Kermode, Chief of Police
September 14, 2012
POSSIBLE ATTEMPTED CHILD ABDUCTION
Case #12-09-1157
On Wednesday, September 12th at 5:50 PM, the Tehachapi Police Department received a report of a possible attempted child abduction that occurred in the area of Pinon Street and Curry Street in Tehachapi.
As reported to the officers, a brother and sister, 11 and 8 years old, were riding their bicycles in the area when a car pulled alongside them and the occupants tried to attract them closer to the car. The boy told his younger sister to ignore them and they continued riding. The car followed them for a short distance, apparently with the passenger continuing to try and get the children’s attention. The children then turned around and rode their bicycles home and told their mother about the incident. The car did not turn around to follow them and was last seen northbound on Curry Street.
The children described the car as a maroon Dodge Intrepid type vehicle, with damage on the right rear door. The occupants were described as a white female driver and a white male passenger in the right front seat.
A car matching that description was found parked in the area and TPD is continuing its investigation into the car’s owner and anyone associated with the car. As of today, it has not yet been confirmed that this particular car or its owner is connected to the incident. There is also no record of this particular car’s owner having any history of any child related crimes. TPD is working with other Kern County law enforcement and the national Center for Missing and Exploited Children to confirm whether similar incidents have been reported involving the same vehicle description.
Parents are encouraged to discuss this type of encounter with their children and to teach their children to act as this boy and girl did: change direction, go home immediately, and report it to a parent.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Tehachapi Police Department at (661) 822-2222 or the Bear Valley PD dispatch center at (661) 821-3239.