2 Attempted Kidnappings In Santa Monica May Be Related, Police Say

SANTA MONICA (CBSLA.com) — Police believe two attempted kidnappings in Santa Monica this week may be related.

The first incident happened around 8 p.m. Wednesday in 1600 block of Ocean Avenue. A 28-year-old woman was walking on the sidewalk when a vehicle passed her and pulled over to the curb in front of her, according to Santa Monica police Sgt. Jay Moroso.

The suspect then got out of the car, described to be a late-model, black Volkswagen four-door hatchback with tinted windows, and stood near it as if he was waiting for someone.

"As the victim passed, the suspect grabbed her in a bear hug and moved her a few feet toward the car, while ordering her into the car. As he did that, an unidentified person appeared in a stairwell in an adjacent apartment building, causing the suspect to let go of the victim," Moroso said.

The suspect is described as black, in his thirties, 6 feet 2 inches tall, 200 to 230 pounds, with short, shaved hair and a beard. He was wearing blue jeans and a black hoodie sweatshirt.

The second incident happened at 10:30 a.m. Friday while a 62-year-old woman was walking south on 14th Street in the area of Olympic Boulevard.

The victim saw a man walking ahead of her on the same side of the street.

In the 1900 block of 14th Street, the suspect grabbed her waist with one hand and covered her mouth with the other while he ordered her into his car. The victim screamed and the suspect ran away, Moroso said.

The victim described the man as black, in his twenties, 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a thin build and short, shaved hair. He was wearing dark-colored shorts with an orange or red stripe on them and a matching short sleeve shirt.

"There has been no confirmation that the suspects in each crime are one in the same; however, the facts involved in both cases tend to point that way. The fact that the suspect(s) choose to commit one crime in daylight and both on well-traveled streets indicates that they are bold and they are dangerous," Moroso said.

Anyone with information about the crimes was asked to call Det. Bambrick at (310) 458-8932 or Det. Ahn at (310) 458-8452.