Dinuba police searching for kidnapping suspect

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Police are looking for a suspect who may have kidnapped a 12-year-old boy, and attempted to nab a 13-year-old girl on Sunday evening. The incidents follow a report of a man trying to lure a girl into his car late last week.

Dinuba police are stepping up patrols around schools. And school officials are warning students of the potential danger. After a girl reported a close call with a stranger who tried to lure her into his car last Thursday while walking home from Washington Intermediate School. Then on Sunday night another girl reported a similar attempt while walking home near Dinuba High School -- and a boy reported he was actually kidnapped at gunpoint.

Lt. Abel Iriarte with the Dinuba Police Department said, "This was a young 13-year-old female and the suspect attempted to lure her into his vehicle but she managed to escape. 45 minutes later we received another call of a 12-year-old boy that was kidnapped in the downtown area. He ended up in the 2200 block of East El Monte Way. He too managed to escape."

In the Sunday night incidents the vehicle was described as a green van, possibly a Chevy Astro van. In Thursdays incident the vehicle was identified as a white sedan. In all three the suspect was described as an Hispanic male between 30 and 40.

Dinuba School Superintendent Joe Hernandez says schools have warned students and parents and are on alert.

Teachers, administrators and police are monitoring children on their way to school and home. They are urging children to walk with a friend or with a parent if possible. While no children have been hurt so far, police are urging everyone in the community to keep a close watch.