Girl Evades Abduction By Ignoring Brazen Attacker

She was listening to music when a man pulled up in his car beside her and tried to lure her inside

A father is thankful he taught his daughter to never talk to strangers after she boldly ignored a man who tried to pull her into his car last week.

Alexandra Smith, 13, was listening to music and walking toward La Mesa and Amethyst roads in Victorville April 10 when a man drove up beside her and tried to lure her into his car.

"(He said), 'Hey you, hey you, you know me, you remember me, I know you, get in the car, come on,'" Smith. "And I was like, 'No, I don't know you,' and I kept refusing."

The girl's father, Erik Hughes, warned her in the past what to do if this ever happened, and she followed his instructions.

"You've got to teach your kids no matter what age," Hughes told NBC4. "You know, teach them young. Don't get into a vehicle that you don't know."

He was surprised anyone would attempt such a brazen move in broad daylight, especially near an intersection where a daycare and elementary school are next to each other.

"It's a sad thing that we've got to deal with this," he said. "We've got to watch our kids 24/7."

The girl ran from the scene until she found an adult she recognized. They tried to find the car to get its license plate number, but the man was nowhere to be found.

The man’s vehicle was described as a 1990s-model Chevy Caprice or Toyota Corolla with black spray-painted rims.

Hughes is hoping someone recognizes the car and calls the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department.

"If he did it once, he’s going to do it again," he said.

San Bernardino County sheriff's investigators said they haven’t received any other reports of similar incidents.

Children and teens with cell phones should attempt to videotape or photograph anyone who approaches them with aggressive behavior, officials said.

"It’s another way of telling them, 'I know who you are,'" San Bernardino Sgt. Ken Lutz said. "Pull the cell phone out. Even if they can't turn the cell phone on, the suspect doesn't know that."

Parents were shaken in the area and on high alert since the incident took place last week.

"I will not let them walk home, I just prefer to pick them up," said a parent who asked to remain anonymous.

Officials are asking anyone who recognizes the vehicle to call the department at 760-245-4211.

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