Police have released chilling surveillance footage of the moments before a man attempted to abduct a schoolgirl in Melbourne’s north-east suburbs.
A man of Middle Eastern appearance driving a grey Audi Q3 SUV told the 11-year-old girl to get into his car in broad daylight on March 28.
The CCTV vision shows a car – believed to be the Audi – turning into a nearby street about the time of the incident.
The girl had been walking home from school in Doncaster East when she was approached.
A man of Middle Eastern appearance driving a grey Audi Q3 SUV told an 11-year-old girl to get into his car in broad daylight on March 28
The CCTV vision shows a car – believed to be the Audi – turning into a nearby street about the time of the incident
About 2.40pm on Thursday the girl was on Landscape Road, as the man drove east before doing a U-turn and stopping a short distance from the girl, police say in a statement released Monday.
‘Investigators have been told the unknown man ordered the girl to get into the vehicle,’ police said.
The 11-year-old girl ran and hid in nearby bushes, and police believe the Audi took off south on Taurus Road.
Detective Senior Constable Brooke Miller said the girl had been left ‘terrified’.
‘She felt like she was going to be taken,’ she said.
‘A little girl should feel safe to walk home from school. It’s a really horrible thing he’s done.’
Constable Miller praised the girl for her quick thinking in escaping the driver.
‘She’s remembered all the information and had the smarts to run and hide,’ Constable Miller said.
Assignment Freelance Picture There was an attempted abduction of an 11-year-old girl in the Melbourne suburb of Doncaster East on March 28
‘I’m hoping by giving the description of the man and the car, someone in the area has dashcam footage or information that could help us.’
The girl managed to get help from a nearby resident.
‘The man is perceived to be Middle Eastern in appearance with tan skin, black hair, a black beard, and a moustache,’ Victoria Police said in the statement.
The Audi driver was wearing sunglasses with brown lenses and grey T-shirt.
Information can be submitted confidentially via Crime Stoppers, and police urge anyone witnesses to contact authorities.