The schoolgirl was able to break free before the man could put her in his car. File photo
A 10-year-old schoolgirl was allegedly grabbed by a man, who then tried to pull her into his car, in South Auckland on Wednesday.
Counties Manukau west area commander Inspector Jason Hewett said the girl - a student from Mangere's Al-Madinah School - told them the incident happened about 3.30pm.
She said the girl was able to break free before he could put her in his car and then reported the incident immediately to police.
Hewett said police were following strong lines of enquiries.
They had executed a search warrant of a Mangere property and had questioned a man.
The police investigation comes after other reports of a man stopping South Auckland school children, offering them cash and trying to get them into his vehicle.
Hewett said it was too early to say whether the man who had allegedly grabbed the Al-Madinah School pupil was the same person believed to have been trying to get children to get into his car in other reported incidents.
Police patrols - including mufti cars - have been monitoring Al-Madinah and other schools in the area in recent days.
He takes over from Andrew Coster who stepped down last week to head new social agency.