Kidnap attempt probably 'planned for some time'

The same man may have tried to kidnap two teenage girls near an Auckland college on Friday and had probably been calculating ways to do it for some time, police say.

Police are also hunting a man who tried to abduct a schoolgirl in Lower Hutt on Friday.

A 17-year-old girl and a 14-year-old girl escaped in two separate incidents within two hours near Auckland's Western Springs College on Friday morning, one jumping out of a slow-moving car.

Police say there could have been two different kidnappers, but there was a strong possibility the attacks were linked.

Inquiry head Detective Sergeant Glenn Baldwin said police profiling suggested the offender had been preparing to make the attack.

"We don't believe someone has just woken up and decides to abduct a schoolgirl," he said.

"He has probably walked around the school, and may have even followed or approached some girls on earlier days before taking the step of trying to get them into his car."

One girl, 17, was on her way to school along Meola Rd when she was threatened by a man who said he had a gun and would shoot her if she didn't get into his car.

The girl scared the man off by screaming and then ran to the school, where she contacted police about 8.50am.

About 10.30am, the second girl, a 14-year-old who was late for school, was snatched on Motions Rd and driven off in a car, which got away as two power contractors tried to run to her aid.

She escaped when the car stopped a nearby intersection and she ran home, where her mother alerted police.

Mr Baldwin said police were seeking witnesses to both the attacks themselves on Friday and anyone acting suspiciously around the college beforehand.

"Often young people brush approaches or stalking off, thinking it's nothing, but in the bigger picture it could well be important."

The car involved in the second incident has been identified as a dark grey four door sedan Honda. The car in the first incident has not been solidly identified but had been variously described as light or dark grey.

A number of witnesses had come forward but no significant breakthrough had been made towards identifying any offenders, Mr Baldwin said.

Mr Baldwin said it was not certain the kidnaps were carried out by the same person, "but the proximity of the two incidents and the comments of witnesses suggests there is a high possibility that it was".

Meanwhile policed in Lower Hutt warned parents to think twice before allowing young people to walk to school after the attempted abduction of a 12-year-old schoolgirl on Friday.

The Naenae Intermediate student was grabbed by a man and threatened, before breaking free and running to school, Lower Hutt Detective Sergeant Tony Heathcote said.

He said police were unsure of the man's motive, but warned parents to take care.

"Our advice to parents is to be cautious when allowing young people to walk to school," he said.

"We recommend that they be accompanied or in groups. Police will be stepping up patrols in that area."

Anyone with information is urged to call Lower Hutt police on (04) 560-2600.

- NZPA