Two teenage girls escaped a suspected kidnapping in the North Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles on Sunday after jumping out of a moving car, according to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD).
The girls — ages 13 and 16 — were walking near North Hills Community Park at Columbus Avenue and Acre Street around 5:20 p.m. when a man in a car pulled up and offered them a ride. They declined and kept walking.
The suspect did not stop there. He approached the girls a second time several blocks away, and they refused again. A third approach, near Nordhoff Street and Columbus Avenue, led to the girls accepting the ride.
Once the teens were inside the vehicle, the situation turned dangerous. According to LAPD Detective Efren Gutierrez, instead of driving to the destination the girls had given him, the suspect headed to a secluded cul-de-sac near Sunburst Street and Lemona Avenue.
“However, instead of going to the location where the girls instructed him to, the suspect drove to the area of Sunburst and Lemona Avenue,” Gutierrez said. “It’s a residential neighborhood, but it’s secluded enough — not enough people or vehicle traffic around.”
The suspect then locked the car doors and offered the girls money, alcohol, and drugs. He also exposed himself and asked for sexual favors in exchange for money, Gutierrez said.
Both girls managed to get out of the car. “The girls were frightened,” Gutierrez said. “They were able to jump out of the car. The first girl jumped out while the car was stationary, and the second girl jumped out of the car while it was in motion.”
Neither girl was physically injured. Both screamed for help as the suspect sped away from the scene.
Authorities believe the suspect is a 21-year-old Hispanic male with black hair and brown eyes, weighing approximately 200 pounds, with tattoos on both arms. He was last seen driving an older model four-door sedan with an unknown license plate. Police believe he frequents the area where the incident occurred.
The suspect remains at large. The investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact the LAPD.
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