Local

Neighborhood on edge after attempted abduction of teen

SNELLVILLE, Ga. — Snellville police are looking for a man who they said attempted to abduct a 13-year-old girl.
 
Police said the girl was walking along Meadow Trace Drive in Snellville when the man approached her.
 
"At the time, he yelled out his window, 'Do you want to help me find my dog?'" said Detective Orlando Concepcion with the Snellville Police Department.  
 
Police said the 13-year-old did the right thing by running away and calling police. They showed up shortly after, but the man took off.
 
"He was a white man in his 30s, his hoodie was tied real tight, it covered like his top area," Concepcion said.
 
Police said the man was driving an older model maroon or red pickup truck.
 
Neighbors Diane Ashmore said at first, cops stopped her because she was driving her red SUV in the neighborhood. She said neighbors are really shaken up by what happened.
 
"It is scary, walking in your neighborhood, someone pulls up with a hoodie, you don't know who he is, going to go to next," Ashmore said.
 
"I believe if she did what he asked, he would have lured her into the vehicle and possibly drove off," said Concepcion.
 
Police said they are investigating whether this crime is connected to other recent attempted child abductions reported in Gwinnett County back in January.
 
"I am sure the whole neighborhood is going to be on lockdown with the children," Ashmore said.
 
Police are also checking the description against registered sex offenders in the area. They will have extra patrols out in the Hawthorne Farms Subdivision where this happened.