A day after a man attempted to kidnap three young girls in a San Bernardino neighborhood, the girls' parents said they want the close call to serve as a reminder to talk with children about stranger safety.
Marrissa Young, 10, was riding her bike with 9-year-old Natalie Soltero and Natalie’s 7-year-old sister Emelie around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday when a man in a gray van approached them at the intersection of Ironwood and Dogwood streets.
"The guy with a van, he came and told us, come on girls, get in the car," Marrissa said.
The girls said they were afraid, but still remembered their parents’ advice to not talk to strangers.
"I was really scared," Natalie said. "I couldn't drive the bike."
All three girls grabbed the bike and ran to Marrissa's home, where she told her dad about the man and he called police.
Though the van was already gone by the time San Bernardino County deputies arrived, Natalie and Emelie’s mother said she’s just glad the girls knew how to react in such a scary situation.
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"I’m really proud of them because they were in danger," Yasmin Reynaga said. "Their instinct was to be brave and come back and just say something about it, because a lot of kids won't say anything. They'll stay quiet."
Marrissa said the frightening encounter has reinforced what her parents have always told her to do if approached by a stranger.
"Don’t go in their car if you don’t know them," Marrissa said. "Don’t do anything with them."
The attempted kidnapper is described as man about 50 years old, with long gray hair that is balding on top and a mustache that is curled at the ends, investigators said.
Anyone with information is asked to call the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department.
