SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — The man suspected of attempting to kidnap two young girls at a Mission Valley Mall was taken into custody Thursday afternoon.
According to police, Rene Lujan, 42, was taken into custody following a traffic stop along eastbound 94 at Home Avenue after officers tracked the vehicle using an Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR) where they located the car in Downtown San Diego.
According to police, the first incident took place Tuesday as a mother was walking next to her six-year-old daughter, who was pushing her younger sibling in a stroller.
While the family was walking, they passed a 40-year-old Hispanic man about 5 feet 10 inches tall. Police said the man began to follow the family before grabbing the six-year-old girl and lifting her off the ground.
RELATED: Search on for man suspected in kidnapping try in Mission Valley Mall parking lot
That suspect was described as having black collar-length hair, a beard, and glasses. “He was wearing a bright baby blue shirt, gray pants, and white tennis-style shoes," SDPD officials stated.
Police said the man was spotted driving a black Chevy Volt with license plate number 7VBS762.
“The man walked a couple of feet in the opposite direction while carrying the girl. The child screamed, causing the man to release her," police said.
According to police, a second attempted kidnapping happened Thursday in the same location. Police said during a news conference that a Hispanic or Arabic man picked up a 5-year-old girl and attempted to put her into a vehicle.
SDPD Lt. Daniel Meyer said an employee from Bounce Houses in the Mission Valley parking lot helped grab the child from the suspect.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call police at 858-495-7900 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
