YUMA, Ariz. – The Yuma Police Department is on the look out for a man involved in two abduction attempts. On Thursday just after 3 p.m. on 7th Avenue the man, described as being a 30 year old hispanic man driving a gray 4-door hatchback, whistled and asked two young girls walking home from school to get in his car. A resident named Tia Kerr says she saw the incident and called police, “I told a school resource officer then called police a little bit later after he also followed my daughter and son coming down sixth street.” The girls in that case ran and got home safety but it didn’t stop there again on Friday a man matching the same description also whistled and asked two young girls to get in his car on 9th Ave., only two blocks from Thursday’s case. The vehicle he was driving was different on Friday, police say it was a red Honda Civic. YPD says he followed the two girls until they started to run home.
The Yuma Union High School District says they are aware of the situation and taking precautions as Matt Buckley, spokesman for YUHSD explains, “Yuma High Administration team did let the teachers know about the situation and and asked them to tell their students about safety and to walk in groups and not talk to people they don’t know”. Students we talked to said their teachers had talked to them about the incidents today.
The Yuma Police Department says that children walking home should travel in groups or be with an adult guardian and not talk to strangers. They also recommend having a cell phone to be able to quickly call for help. If you have any information in this case please call the Yuma Police Department or 78-crime to remain anonymous.