Child kidnapping attempts in Simi Valley, Orange County may be connected
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

A man suspected of trying to kidnap a boy in San Clemente last week may be the same person who tried to kidnap a Simi Valley boy the day before, authorities said.

On Oct. 18 at about 3:30 p.m., a 40 to 50-year-old African American man in an aqua blue or light green sedan drove up to a 10-year-old boy as he rode his bicycle in a residential neighborhood near Arcane Street and Erringer Road, according to Simi Valley police.

The man asked for directions, but the boy moved away from the vehicle. Police said the man then slid across the car seat to the passenger side to grab the boy, but the boy was beyond his reach and rode away.

Although there were no other witnesses, Simi Valley police said they’re following all leads related to the case, including an incident in San Clemente the following day.

On Oct. 19, an 8-year-old boy walked out of his house about 5 p.m. to retrieve something from his mother’s car when a man driving a green-colored sedan stopped to ask him if he wanted a lollipop, said Jim Amormino, a spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

Amormino said the boy turned and ran back to the house to tell his mother, but by the time she came outside the suspect was gone. The boy gave police a description of the suspect, and the following day, after watching a TV news report on the attempted kidnapping in Simi Valley, he identified an artist’s sketch as the man who approached him, Amormino said.

Because the cases are alike— the boys are close in age, the description of the suspect and the vehicle are similar, and the incidents occurred about the same time of day—“in all likelihood they’re connected,” he said.

The two agencies are working closely together on the cases, Amormino added.

At about 8:30 a.m. on Friday, a 16-year-old girl in Simi Valley was approached by a man in a red Ford sport utility vehicle as she walked near Medina and Sequoia avenues. The man asked how old she was. The girl told him her age and first name, and he told her to get in the vehicle. When she refused, he drove away. She described the suspect as an African American man, about 25 years old, clean-shaven with short hair.

Simi Valley Police Sgt. Stephanie Shannon said these cases highlight the importance of educating children on “stranger dangers.” She said that education should include:

•A predetermined code word between parent and child that only someone the parent sends would know

•A trusted neighbor whose home could be a safe house should a stranger confront the child

•Telling the child it’s okay to yell, kick, scream, run or do whatever it takes to get away from a stranger Shannon said it’s a bad idea to have stickers on a vehicle or anywhere public that lists the names of family members, because that’s information pedophiles could use to deceive and manipulate the child. Also, parents should keep track of their children at all times, aware of the route they’ll be taking, who they’ll be with and when they’re expected home, she said.

“Pedophiles prey on (a child’s) innocence,” said Shannon. “It’s important that we educate our kids.”

Simi Valley police are asking anyone with information on these cases to call detectives at (805) 583-6950.