On July 23 the young girl was walking to school in the morning along Close Ave heading into John Hemmings Memorial Park in the Melbourne suburb of Dandenong when at around 8:20am a man tried to grab her from behind.
The frightened student broke free but was then chased down by her attacker and he tried to grab her again, however this time she hit him with her schoolbag and fled.
According to Dandenong detective senior constable Luke Shore, the teen had not suffered any physical injuries but was dealing with “significant emotional trauma.”
He added: “He [the attacker] actually crosses the road to grab her, It’s possible he was following her but there is nothing to suggest that.”
The detective also reiterated that everybody has the right to feel safe while on the street, “she should have felt most safe at that time,” he explained.
Police have released CCTV footage of the moments before the incident in the hopes the public may have some information.
Police have released this image of the would-be child abductor
Authorities are also appealing for the driver of a white van, seen in the area during the attack, to come forward.
The attacker is believed to be Caucasian, aged between 35 and 40, about 173cm tall with a medium build. He was also wearing a white zip up jacket and black jeans at the time of the incident.
Police are urging anybody with information to call crime-stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Watch the haunting CCTV footage in the player above.
