File photo / NZ Herald
Two children have been targeted in possible attempted abductions on Auckland's North Shore this week.
On Monday a man approached a five-year-old as the boy walked down Greenhithe Road.
The child was able to run off.
Detective Sergeant Megan Goldie said the investigation was still in its early days.
"It's unclear exactly what the incident was, and whether it was an attempted abduction,'' she said.
Police have not yet been able to talk to the boy.
"We don't know exactly how serious it was,'' she said. Police were following up leads.
Radio New Zealand reported the boy was grabbed by the man but had struggled free.
Yesterday, a nine-year-old Red Beach School student was approached by a man outside the school.
School principal Julie Hepburn said the nine-year-old girl was approached by a Caucasian man in a two-door white vehicle.
The man was offering her a ride home, she said.
"Wisely our student declined, immediately removed herself from the situation and alerted her mum.''
Police were immediately called, and were at the school within 15 minutes.
Ms Hepburn started at the school only on Monday so could not comment on whether cases like this had occurred in the past.
She had asked her teachers to remind their students about what to do when approached by a stranger.
Senior Sergeant Andy King said at this stage there was not a lot of information to go on.
Police were looking into whether the two incidents were connected.
"Obviously that's what we don't want, that sort of thing going on.''
Police had stepped up their school patrols in the area.
The investigation was still in its very early stages, he said.
'The victim was taken to Rotorua Hospital for treatment for their injuries.'