UC Riverside campus police are asking students to be vigilant after two female students reported separate possible kidnapping attempts that happened within two hours of each other.
About 6:30 p.m. Saturday, a student was walking on a path to Lothian Residence Hall near Big Springs Road when she passed by a man grabbing something from the trunk of a silver-colored car, police said. When the student looked back, the man was walking closely behind her holding a folded, dark blue bandana with a pattern on it.
The student panicked and threw a drink she was holding at the man and ran. She said she turned back and saw the man getting in his car and driving away.
About an hour later, another student said she was walking alone when she came across a silver-colored, four-door sedan blocking the same path to Lothian. When she tried to go around it, a man got out of the car and ran toward her, getting close enough to touch her as she fled, police said.
The student said she looked back and saw the man run back to the car and drive off.
Officers searched the area, but could not find the car.
The man was described as Asian, 20- to 30-years-old, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, with black hair and an oval-shaped face. He was wearing a white T-shirt and glasses.
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Campus police said they are investigating the incidents as possible attempted abductions.
Anyone with information was urged to call campus police at 951-827-5222.
