Aurora Police Offer Largest Reward Ever In Attempted Kidnapping Case
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Police are looking for a suspect after an attempted kidnapping in Aurora and they have offered the largest reward ever to help catch the person.
The incident happened early Monday morning in the 1600 block of Hanover Street. Aurora police are calling the case their top priority.
Police say a man pulled off a window screen and opened an unlocked window at about 12:15 a.m. He then grabbed an 8-year-old girl out of her bedroom. The girl's screaming woke her father and he ran into the alley where she was running back towards him.
The girl is back home after being taken to the hospital for minor injuries. Her father told CBS4's Karen Morfitt his daughter is doing okay and just resting.
There is a reward of up to $10,000 being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the attempted kidnapping. It's the largest reward ever offered by the Aurora Police Department.
Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said the incident is like something he has never seen before.
"We're treating this matter extremely seriously," Oates said. "We think there's a predator out there and he has to be stopped and he has to be caught."
Neighbor Nick Hadley saw the aftermath of the attempted kidnapping.
"I woke up, my dogs were barking like crazy because of the ambulances and fire trucks out here," Hadley said.
Neighbor Julia Theus also lives in the neighborhood. She is thankful the child is safe but worries about other children in the area and questions why the suspect chose that particular home.
"Out of all the apartments on this block, why just reach in there? Theus said. "It had to be somebody they knew to know which room she was in and all that kind of stuff."
Police say there is nothing to indicate that the family was targeted and that maybe a light being on in the bedroom had something to do with it, but say there really is no way to tell, making the case even more chilling.
Police are looking for a white man with blonde hair who smelled of cigarettes. He was last seen wearing a black winter jacket and could be driving a silver or gray BMW. Officers were canvassing the area and talking to neighbors.
Additional Resources
Aurora police posted the following information in a bulletin about their case:
Aurora Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has any information on this case to please call Detective Christine Hurley at (303) 739-6113. You can also provide information on this case and remain anonymous by calling CRIME STOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867). You may also text your tip to 274637 (CRIMES) then use the title DMCS and enter your message.
