'Attempted abduction' near Northcote Intermediate School on North Shore

The girl was walking to school when the man in a white van pulled up next to her. Photo/File

A "suspicious" man tried to abduct an Auckland student yesterday morning, offering her a ride in his white van with tinted windows.

In an email to parents, Northcote Intermediate School deputy principal Karen Russell said the man approached the 11-year-old student near Northcote Countdown, just metres from the school, about 8.30am.

North Shore Acting Inspector Scott Cunningham said the man drove off when the girl refused to get into his car.

"The girl was walking to school along Lake Rd between 7.30am and 8am. A man, in a white van, has pulled up next to the girl and offered her a ride to school," he said.

"The young girl has done the right thing by telling an adult, and police will be speaking with her and family again tomorrow," he said.

Russell's email described the "suspicious" man as having long dark hair, a tattoo on his left arm and driving a white van, possibly with tinted windows.

"The student involved is safe and did all the right things, reporting the incident as soon as they arrived to school," she said.

She urged parents to discuss the incident with their children "so they know what to do if they are approached or confronted".

"It is a very pertinent reminder that student safety in our community is paramount."

Cunningham said police will conduct additional patrols in the area and will be highly visible before and after school this week to reassure the community.

"We acknowledge that any incident of this type is concerning to parents but we can reassure the community that we are taking this matter very seriously."

He said police were working closely with the school, and urged anyone with information to contact police.

A similar incident was reported last month, but police found nothing suspicious after speaking to the driver.

And on February 28, a man tried to grab an 11-year-old girl on her way to St Heliers School, in East Auckland.