Atlanta police are asking for the public's help in identifying and catching the man they said kidnapped one woman and tried to kidnap a second woman within one hour early Wednesday.

"At first, we thought he was going to rob us," said one witness, who was too scared to appear on camera or allow Channel 2 Action News to use her name.

The Georgia State University graduate student told Channel 2's Aaron Diamant she watched as an armed man jumped up onto the porch of her Mayson Avenue home and kidnapped her friend.

"It was mostly just surreal," she said. "I didn't really know what to do. I sort of got up halfway to chase after him, but he told me to stay where I was."

She stood helpless as the man marched her friend up Mayson Street and stuffed her in the trunk of his car, then took off.

While racing down Woodford Avenue, the victim managed to grab the emergency release latch, pop open the trunk and get out.

"She's doing OK," said the victim's friend. "She's shaken up, but we're both basically fine."

Just a half hour later, police said, the same man tried to kidnap another woman walking to her car less than a mile away on Hawthorne Street, but the man ran off after a neighbor intervened.

"We have a predator that's roaming the streets of Atlanta right now," said Atlanta police Sgt. Curtis Davenport. "It's very serious to us."

Atlanta police are now stepping up patrols and asking the public for help getting the man off the streets.

"We hope to be able to put all the pieces together and be able to put together a composite sketch to seek help in identifying this subject," Davenport said.

The victim's friend hopes that happens fast.

"It's totally unacceptable to allow people to disrespect our community in this way," she said.

Right now, police are looking for a black man in his 20s, 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a skinny build and shoulder-length dreadlocks.

Police said he was driving a small, dark sedan with front-end damage.

If you have any information about the attacks, you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.

Even if you don't leave your name, you can still be eligible for a reward.

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