Burbank Girl, 8, Eludes Attacker

Burbank police are looking for a man who tried to abduct an 8-year-old Burbank girl Monday as she walked from Bret Harte Elementary School, Burbank police said.

The incident began when the man drove a white delivery van alongside the girl as she walked west on Allen Avenue, Sgt. Don Goldberg said. The driver asked her for directions. When she refused to respond, he continued to drive beside her and repeated his question, frightening her and prompting her to run south on Kenwood Street, he said.

The man parked the van ahead of the girl, got out and grabbed her arm as she walked down Kenwood near Edison Boulevard, Goldberg said. He drove off when she screamed for help, getting the attention of several passers-by, Goldberg said. The girl was not injured, he said.

Goldberg said the van had a customized back end for moving large loads and had gold-colored lettering on the side. The man is described as a 25- to 30-year-old Latino, 6 feet, 2 inches tall, with a medium build and black hair. He was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.