Leander boy says he escaped kidnapping

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) - Police are investigating after a 12-year-old boy says he narrowly escaped a kidnapping.

The boy told police he was walking near the intersection of Applerock and Wigwam streets when a man in a rust/maroon-colored pickup truck got out and tried to grab him from behind and tried to pull him towards the truck.

The boy says he was wearing a backpack and was able to wiggle free from the stranger’s arms before running away to safety.

The stranger got back in the truck and drove away, according to the boy. He described the stranger as a white man in his 20s who had long hair and a scar on his forearm.

The incident happened around 5 p.m. Thursday in a quiet subdivision where open garage doors and Halloween decorations can be seen in a walk through the area.

Police say they are not sure what the motivation for the stranger may have been but it is a good opportunity for parents to talk to their children.

“When they are walking to and from school, they should have some situational awareness about them and know what to do when confronted and know where to go for help and what to report,” said Assistant Leander Police Chief Jeff Hayes.

Leander police said they will continue to patrol the area and find neighbors who may have seen something suspicious.