Kidnapping attempts on the rise, authorities claim

Hacienda Heights, West Covina, Covina, Whittier and Pasadena have all experienced kidnapping attempts in recent days. Now a sergeant attached to the Sheriff's Special Victims Unit acknowledges there's been a rash of such attempts.

We're writing the story now. Not sure how significant it will be. Its doubtful that the "rash" has a common thread, but as yet that is mroe speculation than anything.

Following one such attempt in Hacienda Heights earlier this week, deputies have taken to stepping up enforcement in the neighborhood. Here's the story:

HACIENDA HEIGHTS - Industry Sheriff's deputies are out in force patrolling after a bold kidnapping attempt Wednesday morning.

A man driving a gray Honda Civic pulled up alongside and tried to grab an 8-year-old boy as he walked to Palm Elementary in the 14000 block of Palm Avenue at about 8 a.m. Wednesday.

The man fled when the child's mother, who was walking about 15 feet behind the boy, screamed, authorities said.

"We're doing saturation patrol and being highly visible," said Industry Sheriff's Lt. John McBride. "The manner in which he did it was pretty overt."

He said authorities will be patrolling area schools with "no end in sight, hopefully until we catch this guy."

The attempted kidnapper is a male Hispanic standing about 5 feet 4 inches and weighing about 200 pounds, authorities said. He is about 50 years old with a thin mustache and a V-shaped scar under his left eye.