Attempted abduction in Leander; suspect still at large: police
Leander attempted child abduction
Leander police are still searching for a man they say attempted to abduct a child from an apartment complex.
LEANDER, Texas - The Leander Police Department said the suspect in an attempted child abduction is still at large.
What we know:
The incident happened on April 2, at the Lakeline Apartments at 3000 N. Lakeline Boulevard, involving a four-year-old child.
"Very, very uncommon," said Lt. Mike Mohler with the Leander Police Department. "In the 25 years that I’ve been with Leander, almost 25 years that I’ve been with Leander, it’s the first."
The child is safe and was not injured, and no weapons were involved.
What they're saying:
"The mother did what any mother would do, or any mother would do and protected her and her children," said Lt. Mohler.
Lt. Mohler said she fought him off before he ran south towards Cedar Park barefoot.
"This is really an alarm to my head," said Jose Pasco, who’s waiting to pick up his son from the nearby middle school in the neighborhood across the street.
He usually parks two blocks away, so he doesn't have to wait in the school line traffic.
"Will I have to be more concerned?" said Pasco. "I don’t know if I have to change something, I have to make the line over there to make sure my kids are safe? We should try to work with the neighbors, you know, to see anything strange and spread the news, spread the word, you know, because it’s our kids."
"We can’t be everywhere every time, so we’re going to have the public. You know, we increase the amount of people that can keep being eyes and ears for us. If they see somebody that resembles the suspect in that area, please give us a call," said Lt. Mohler. "But, also, if they live close to that location, please, if you do have a Ring camera just give us a call."
The suspect
What we know:
Leander police have released a description of the suspect:
- White male
- Approximately 5'9"
- Thin build
- Short dark curly hair
- Last seen wearing light-colored shorts and a black top, no shoes
Lt. Mohler with Leander police said they were not able to locate the suspect via drones or K9s, so he’s turning to the public for help identifying a white man.
The suspect fled the scene on foot southbound from the apartment complex and is still at large as of 3:03 p.m. April 2.
The search
What's next:
Leander police say that after an extensive search on Wednesday, officers and K-9 units were not able to find the suspect.
Detectives are still checking surveillance videos and canvassing the area for leads.
The department plans to continue with increased patrols in the area of the apartment complex and surrounding schools.
What you can do:
Anyone with any information that might help identify the suspect is urged to call Sgt. Aaron George at 512-528-2839.
Leander police are also advising the public to:
- Stay Alert: Always be aware of your surroundings, especially in unfamiliar areas.
- Travel in Groups: There’s safety in numbers—avoid walking alone at night or in secluded places.
- Trust Your Instincts: If a situation feels off, remove yourself as quickly as possible.
- Share Your Whereabouts: Let a friend or family member know where you’re going and when to expect you back.
- Avoid Distractions: Limit phone use while walking so you can stay aware of people around you.
Residents can report any suspicious behavior to the police immediately at 512-528-2800.
The Source: Information in this report comes from the Leander Police Department.