Attempted Abduction of 5-Year-Old Boy

A mother is reporting that a woman attempted to kidnap her 5-year-old son from in front of her home in unincorporated Menlo Park on Saturday morning.

According to a statement from the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, at approximately 10:15 a.m. Saturday, the boy was playing alone in front of his home on Oakley Avenue in West Menlo Park, near Alameda de las Pulgas and Valparaiso Avenue. The boy's mother then saw a suspicious vehicle drive up and stop near her son.

The mother walked out toward her son and said the van then drove away, east on Oakley toward Cloud Avenue.

The child told his mother that the driver of the van was a woman who offered him candy, and asked if he would like to go with her.

The vehicle was described as an older model, faded light-blue minivan. No license number or make or model of the vehicle could be described.

The occupant of the vehicle was described as a dark-skinned female, possibly Hispanic or Asian, with dark hair.

The Sheriff's statement indicates the mother's report is the only report of such activity in the area, and that no other witnesses to the incident have been located.

Any person who may have information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Matt Broad at 650-363-4363 or via e-mail at mbroad@smcgov.org.

People may also contact the Sheriff’s Office's Anonymous Witness Line at 800-547-2700.

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