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Police say man tried to kidnap girl
Authorities in Orange County say a man attempted to kidnap an 11-year-old girl outside of the Blossom Corners Apartments on Curry Ford Road.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Police in Orlando are stepping up their security measures after an older male attempt to kidnap an 11-year-old.
The Orlando Police Department says that on Sunday afternoon, an older Hispanic man, possibly in his 50s, approached an 11-year-old girl as she was playing with her 7-year-old sister at the Blossom Corner Apartments, in the 2000 block of Raper Dairy Road. He was driving a white SUV, possibly an Isuzu. He gave the child a Minnie Mouse keychain and $3 before grabbing her forcefully by the arm when she reached to take them. They said that the man went on to ask her about her school schedule and how she gets to and from school. He also asked her for a kiss and he told her to not tell her parents about their interaction. Thought the man told the child not to tell her parents about their encounter, she immediately told them and they called the police.
Police calling it disturbing -- even more disturbing that this man is still on the streets.
“I think this is any parent’s nightmare,” said Lieutenant Wanda Miglio, with the Orlando Police Department. “I think we all have a special place for children because they’re innocent and they don’t understand what’s going on, it really disturbs us that somebody would do something like this.”
An adult witness gave police a description of the man. Authorities are working on a composite sketch and are dusting the keychain and money for fingerprints.
“We are increasing presence, we are going door-to-door, checking cameras,” said Miglio.
In the meantime, police urge parents to speak to their children about predators.
Police also advised the following safety tips for children:
- Never go anywhere with a stranger.
- Do not walk with them or get into anyone's car.
They also advised that parents:
- Do not label your children's items. This lets people know your child's name. A stranger can see the name on a lunch box and call your child's name. This will confuse your child to think this person knows him/her. Know where your children are at all times.
- Know your child's friends, first and last name. Where their friends live. I can not stress enough how many calls officers respond to of missing children when asked where their friends live, parents do now know.
- Keep the lines of communication open between you and your children
- Know where your children are at all times.
“Hopefully, parents will talk to their kids about things like this, any scenario they can think of, to help prevent this from happening,” Miglio added.
If you know anything or see anything suspicious, call police at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477) or 911.