Man tries to kidnap young girl

AN ATTEMPTED kidnapping of an eight-year-old schoolgirl in Kumeu on Monday morning has police on a manhunt.

The incident happened at about 7.50am on Waitakere Rd near Boord Cres.

Police say the girl was walking to school with a brother and sister from near Farrand Rd, a dead-end road off Waitakere Rd.

The victim's brother and sister began to walk ahead of her and eventually there was quite a distance between them, police say.

When she approached Boord Cres, a black car pulled up next to her and a man jumped out and grabbed her by the left arm.

He told her to get into the car but when she refused he slapped her on top of the head and took off.

The man is described as brown-skinned, wearing a black hoodie and the sole occupant of a black four-door car.

A dog was in the vehicle's back seat.

The young girl is extremely shaken and upset by her experience and is receiving support, police say.

The nature of the attack is a serious concern and police need to find the offender before he strikes again, senior sergeant Glenn Adkin from the Rodney CIB says.

He says he doesn't know of any similar attempted abductions in the area at this stage.

"But that's something we'll be looking at."

Kidnap attempts on school-aged children were made in Peak Rd near Helensville, Riverhead, and Wainui during the mid to late 1990s, one man was also described as brown-skinned, possibly of Middle-Eastern descent.

Anyone with information should call Kumeu police on (09) 412-7756, Rodney CIB (09) 426-4555 or the report it to the Crimestoppers anonymous hotline on 0800-555-111.

- © Fairfax NZ News