Man with neck tattoo sought for trying to abduct child

Police are investigating an attempted child abduction in south Vancouver on Wednesday.

At around 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, a 13-year-old girl was walking home from school in the area of Kerr Street and Southeast Marine Drive when she spotted a man following her in a black, four-door, newer model sedan with a grey interior.

The driver stopped and told the girl to get into his car.

“A young girl was approached, she listened to her gut and knew something wasn't right,” said Vancouver police Const. Tania Visintin. “She was able to get to a place of safety before the situation escalated.”

The girl entered a nearby restaurant and was able to call police.

“It wasn't right to her, she didn't feel safe in that moment,” said Visintin. “We always tell the public — whether it be this situation or other stuff that goes on — whatever doesn't feel right to the person involved, they should call 911, and she did the right thing.”

The driver was described as a Caucasian man with a dark or tanned complexion, likely 25-35 years old. He's estimated to be between five foot nine and six feet tall, with an athletic build. He has short brown hair and dark brown stubble on his face.

The man wore a black T-shirt and Ray-Ban style sunglasses, and appeared to have plastic wrap over a tattoo on his neck.

Visintin called that detail “distinctive” and said investigators believe the tattoo was recently completed. Any tattoo artists in the city who may recognize the suspect description, or who may have recently completed a neck tattoo on an individual matching this description, are asked to call police.

“Investigators are looking to speak to the driver of this black sedan or anyone who may have information about this incident.

“Furthermore, police are looking for information about any male who may have recently obtained a tattoo on his neck,” said Visintin.

Investigators are also hoping to speak with anyone who may have dashcam or home surveillance footage from the area of Kerr Street and Southeast Marine Drive between 2:30-4:30 p.m. on Oct. 14.

Anyone with information or video footage is asked to call police at 604-717-0603 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.