Two abduction attempts in 24 hours

Hamilton police say two abduction attempts within 24 hours may be the work of the same man.

On Friday, a 17-year-old girl fought her way free after a man reached out of his car and grabbed her. Thursday night, a man with a similar description and car followed a 15-year-old girl and ordered her to get into his vehicle. She fled and her family talked to police after the Friday attempt was reported.

Although the two girls targeted are close in age, Sergeant Dave Beech is reminding anyone of any age walking alone to be aware of their surroundings and if they get into a similar situation, to react as these girls did.

Hamilton police believe the attempts might be related since there are similarities in descriptions of the suspect and car, said spokesperson Sergeant Terri-Lynn Collings.

Friday afternoon’s suspect was able to grab the teenage girl until she struggled free.

But on Thursday, only words were exchanged between the suspect and his intended victim, Collings said.

That could be because Thursday’s intended victim, a 15-year-old girl walking down Barton Street East on the south side near Parkdale Avenue North between 9 and 9:30 p.m. noticed a car following her and crossed the street, putting more distance between herself and the driver.