Newbury Park girl escapes suspected kidnapper
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

Police are searching for a white man in his 40s, 5 feet 10 inches tall, medium build with long wavy or curly blond hair and an unkempt appearance who's suspected of kidnapping an 11-year-old girl in Newbury Park on Sat., Jan. 26.

The child was forced into a van by the suspect and driven away, a police report said. After a struggle she was able to free herself while still in her neighborhood and ran straight home, where she told her parents what happened, the report said.

Police said the incident occurred in a gated community in Newbury Park near Ventu Park Road and Ramona Drive at around 5 p.m.

East County Sheriff's major crime unit and the Thousand Oaks Police Department have obtained information from witnesses to help in the description of the suspect and his vehicle.

The vehicle is described as a 1980s domestic van/conversion ranging from light to dark green with two horizontal 3 to 4inchwide lighter green stripes, tinted windows and double doors on the back. The van was described by witnesses as dirty with paint oxidation. The license plate possibly had digits ending in 214, the police report said.

Witnesses reported seeing the suspect and vehicle in the gated community during the week prior to the alleged kidnapping.

Anyone who sees a person or vehicle matching these descriptions or any suspicious activity is asked to call 911, Sgt. Don Aguilar said.

Information can also be reported to Ventura County Sheriff's Department East County Major Crimes Bureau at (805) 494-8259.

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous.

The call isn't recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at (805) 494TALK (Thousand Oaks/ Moorpark) or (805) 385-TALK (Camarillo/Oxnard/Port Hueneme).