Men Approaching Teenage Girls In Aliso Viejo, La Habra

SANTA ANA (CBS) — Authorities are on the lookout Thursday for men they say are approaching teenage girls and trying to lure them into cars as they walk home from school.

Orange County Sheriff's spokesman Jim Armormino says an Aliso Niguel High School student was approached Wednesday afternoon by a Latino man between 30 to 40 years old. The man, who was driving an older model white Dodge van with tinted windows, told the girl her parents were involved in a serious car crash and that he was sent to pick her up.

"She started screaming, 'Leave me alone,' " and the man drove off when two other motorists who saw what was happening pulled over, Amormino said.

Sheriff's investigators want those two motorists to call (866) TIP-OCSD so they can talk to them about the incident.

Two teenage girls were similarly accosted in La Habra, La Habra police spokeswoman Cindy Knapp said.

Both were walking home from La Habra High school when they were approached. One 15-year-old girl said a Latino man tried to persuade her to get into his car as she walked Monday afternoon.

Another 15-year-old girl told police a Latino man in his 20s or 30s in a red car, possibly Ford Mustang or Chevy Camaro, approached her at the same time on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday as she walked home on Walnut Street.

On Wednesday, the suspect got out of the car and approached her, but she ignored him, Knapp said.

That suspect is about 5 feet 8, weighs about 160 pounds, speaks English and has short hair, Knapp said.

Authorities were working to see if the incidents are connected, but the vehicles are different.

"We haven't ruled out anything," Knapp said.

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