Man Arrested For Attempted Kidnapping At Mission Valley​ Mall​: Police

SAN DIEGO, CA — A man was arrested after trying to kidnap a child at a San Diego mall, authorities said.

Police pulled over Rene Lujan, 42, Thursday on state Route 94 near Home Avenue and took him into custody, according to the San Diego Police Department.

A man matching his description attempted to kidnap a 6-year-old girl around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday on the east side of the Mission Valley mall, Lt. Daniel Meyer said. She was walking next to her mother and pushing her younger sibling in a stroller on the east side of the mall.

"A man walked past the family and began to follow them before grabbing the 6-year-old girl and lifting her off the ground," Meyer said. "The man walked a couple of feet in the opposite direction while carrying the girl until she began screaming and he released her."

The suspect, now identified as Lujan, fled on foot westbound through the mall. Police responded to the scene and obtained a description and license plate of the suspect's car. Meyer said the car passed under a license plate reader, which helped officers find the vehicle.

Hours before Lujan's arrest, a second attempted kidnapping of a 5-year-old girl with "very similar circumstances and suspect description" was reported at the mall.

"SDPD is actively working that case to determine if it is tied to the first," Meyer said.

Anyone with further information about the cases was asked to contact the department's Eastern Division at 858-495-7900 or San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.