Police warn about would-be abductor

File photo / Martin Sykes

Police are to hand out leaflets at a Christchurch primary school next week warning about a would-be abductor in the area.

A 10-year-old girl was approached by man in the southern suburb of St Martins on September 25.

The man invited the girl to get in his red car before grabbing her shoulder and trying to pull her towards him. The girl broke free and ran home.

Now police are to hand out leaflets at St Mary School Primary when schools resume on Monday warning about the possible predator.

"We are just ensuring the parents of the children living in that area know about it, and that if there are any incidents that concern them to phone our office," Detective Sergeant Earle Borrell said today.

Christchurch police are also investigating a second abduction attempt, which occurred on the same day in Bishopdale, about 10km northwest of St Martins.

A man driving a black car pulled over next to an 11-year-old girl as she walked home along Harewood Road.

He wound down his window and told the girl to get into the car.

She said "no" and ran home.

At first, police said they were looking into a possible link between the two attempts, but Mr Borrell said today there was no connection.

The 10-year-old girl described the St Martins offender as being about 20 to 30 years old, about 173cm tall and of slim build.

He had short dark hair and was wearing dark clothing, sneakers and grey and black speckled gloves.

The 11-year-old described the Bishopdale offender as in his 30s, with a dark moustache and goatee and a tattoo on the left side of his neck. He was wearing a black leather jacket and sunglasses.

Police are still investigating, and anyone with information about either incident was asked to contact them.

- NZPA