At least two people tried to get an 11-year- old boy into a van as the child walked home from a school bus stop in Palos Verdes Estates, police said.
The boy was headed home from a bus stop in the area of Coronel Plaza and Via Margarita about 3:30 p.m. Thursday, when a “1980s style Chevrolet van” approached, according to the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department.
“The driver of the van called to the victim to get his attention and ask him directions to ‘the promenade,”‘ according to a police statement.
“The victim began to look at his cellphone to assist the suspect and the suspect said he could not hear him speaking and asked him to come closer to the van.”
As the boy neared the front passenger door of the van, he heard the passenger sliding door open and felt someone grab his backpack from behind and attempt to pull him into the van, police said.
“The victim quickly broke free from the second suspect’s grasp and ran from the location straight to his residence,” according to police. “He then heard the van quickly speed away from the area.”
The victim did not get a look at the suspect who grabbed him from behind, but told investigators he recalled seeing the same van in the same area at the same time of day on Wednesday, police said.
The van was described as full-size, medium brown with a light-colored horizontal stripe running along both sides. It had faded paint that was chipped in spots, oval windows on the sides and rear with the rear windows covered by closed horizontal mini-blinds on the inside.
The driver appeared to be 40 to 50 years old, with a medium build, dark brown buzz-cut hair and a dark, tanned complexion. He wore a tank top of unknown color.
Anyone with information that could assist investigators was urged to call Palos Verdes Estates police at (310) 378-4211.
—City News Service