A man was arrested Tuesday after attempting to kidnap a 12-year-old girl who was walking to school, according to Salt Lake City Police.
Around 9:30 a.m., the girl was walking to Liberty Elementary School, located just west of Liberty Park, when the man pulled up in a dark GMC pickup truck. He offered her money and asked if she needed a ride. When she said no and walked away, police say the man drove “in the direction of the girl — to prevent the girl from leaving the area.”
The girl then ran away, and the driver took off. She told a trusted adult what happened once she got to school, and school officials contacted police.
SLCPD sent out a description of the truck and the suspect, and officers located him in his truck near 550 West and 200 South.
The 53-year-old man was then arrested. He was booked on one count of attempted child kidnapping.
More than two weeks ago, on April 8, West Valley City police arrested a teenager suspected of attempting to kidnap an 8-year-old student outside Whittier Elementary School. Officials said the 16-year-old grabbed the third grader after school and tried to drag her away before she fought back and ran to her mother’s vehicle.
The teen, who officials said lives near the elementary school, was booked into juvenile detention.
SLCPD late Tuesday shared the following advice for parents to keep their kids safe:
Never talk to strangers – If a stranger approaches a child or teen, teach them to say “No!” and to run to a safe place to report the incident.
Use the buddy system – Encourage children and teens to be with a friend or family member when outside.
Be aware of your surroundings – Tell children and teens to be aware of their surroundings. Encourage them not to become distracted by personal devices and headphones/earbuds that may prevent them from seeing or hearing someone approach them.
Trust your instincts – Remind children and teens that it is okay for them to trust their instincts. If they ever find themselves in an uncomfortable situation, they should report it to a trusted adult immediately.
— This article is published through the Utah News Collaborative, a partnership of news organizations in Utah that aim to inform readers across the state.