Man tried to lure teens with Happy Meal

Police are searching for a man who aggressively grabbed a teenage girl on an Oceanside street last week and — in what they said could be a related incident — a man who tried to lure two teens into his truck by offering them a McDonald's Happy Meal.

The first incident occurred on Thursday, May 13, at 3:50 p.m., when police said a 17-year-old girl was approached by a white male, between 45 to 55-years-old, at the corner of Brower Avenue and Oceanside Parkway. Police said the man grabbed the teen by her hips and pulled her against his body. The girl managed to break free and ran across the street, where she called a friend for a ride home. Her parent later notified police.

In the second incident, on Friday, May 14, at 6:20 p.m., police said a man fitting the first suspect's description pulled up along Merle Avenue in a dark SUV. There, police said he attempted to lure two girls, 13 and 14-years-old, when he asked them if they wanted to share a Happy Meal and called them over to his vehicle. The girls ran into a nearby restaurant, and their parents later contacted police.

Because the incident occurred on Merle Avenue, where the school district's administrative offices and the kindergarten center are located, a spokeswoman for the district said parents would be notified about the incident.

"We're definitely aware of it and the superintendent is sending a letter home," said Donna Kraus, the district's public information officer. "We want to remind parents to be diligent and let them know that something like this happened. Hopefully the police will catch him."

Detectives in charge of the case were not immediately available to provide additional information. Police are asking that anyone with information about these or similar incidents contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.

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