A teenage girl managed to break free from a man who grabbed her by the wrist as she walked to school in Conder on Wednesday morning, police say.
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Police said the Lanyon High School student, 13, was walking in Cremorne Place when a man got out of a white van parked on the street, followed her and approached her from behind about 8.45am.
He grabbed her by the wrist, but the girl was able to escape and ran away.
The man did not say anything during the incident, police said.
An ACT Policing spokesman said there were no suspects yet and urged anyone who witnessed the incident, or had any information, to come forward.
The spokesman said police would investigate whether it was linked to a similar attempt last month.
Police said a woman was forced to flee when two men tried to abduct her as she walked to her car in Forde on Thursday, May 29.
The man in the Conder incident was described as being of Middle Eastern or Mediterranean appearance, tall, stocky and aged in his mid-30s.
He had short, dark hair and was reportedly wearing black cargo pants with a fluoro-coloured jacket and dark work boots.
The van was described as possibly a Volkswagen, white and with a metal step across the back and a small logo on the driver’s side door.
It had no rear windows, except for a tinted window at the passenger-side rear door.
Police released CCTV still images of a white van thought to be linked to the incident on Wednesday.
The spokesman said on Thursday the van's driver had reported to Woden police station and they no longer believed the vehicle was connected to the incident.
Police encouraged residents to be vigilant when they were walking on the street and to take notice of people and vehicles which were often in their area.
Children walking without an adult should stay in a group, pay attention to their surrounds and let their parent or guardian know if their plans changed, police said.
If they saw anyone acting suspiciously, they should seek help from an adult they trusted, phone police and remember as many details as they could about the person.
Police said a child who was approached by a stranger should not engage in conversation with them and should shout loudly and tell the person to stay away if they felt scared.
They urge anyone who may have seen the incident or have any information to phone Crime Stoppers, 1800 333 000, or visit act.crimestoppers.com.au.