Mothers Fight Off Kidnapper in 2 Separate Attacks

GLENDALE, CA - Two mothers thwarted the attempted kidnappings of their children Wednesday, police said.

The two incidents occurred within 25 minutes and less than a mile away from each other, leading investigators to believe they are related, according to Sgt. Robert William of the Glendale Police Department.

The first incident occurred at 5:11 p.m. at the intersection of Chevy Chase Drive and Adams Street. Police said a mother was walking her infant child in a stroller when she was approached by the suspect who grabbed the child out of the stroller and attempted to flee.

The mother struggled over her baby and was able to get the child back before the suspect fled the scene in a small white or silver compact car, police said.

The suspect was described to police as a Hispanic woman with short, thick hair, wearing heavy winter-style clothing. The first three characters of the license plate of the vehicle the suspect fled in are possibly "7HY," police said.

The second incident occurred at 5:35 p.m. just outside the John Marshall Elementary School campus located at 1201 E. Broadway, at the intersection of Chevy Chase Drive and Broadway.

An 8-year-old child reported to a 911 operator that someone tried to steal his 2-year-old brother, police said. In this incident, the mother was standing nearby and was able to interrupt the attempted kidnapping and the suspect fled in a small, four-door silver sedan.

The 8-year-old witness described the suspect as a man who was dressed like a woman, and the child's mother described the suspect as a male in his late 40s or 50s with salt-and-pepper hair and a "two-day-old beard," police said. She also told police the suspect was dressed in a gray shirt with a multi- colored design on the front.

William said there are several indications these incidents involve the same suspect including the similar vehicle descriptions and the closeness of time and distance of the incidents.

The suspect in both incidents also called the children "cute" before attempting to take them, William said.

Glendale police are working closely with Glendale Unified School officials to notify parents and are requesting everyone in the area to be "extra vigilant," according to William.

Anyone with information about these attempted kidnappings is urged to call (818) 548-4911.

City News Service