Teenager grabbed
POLICE are on the hunt for an overweight, middle-aged man who allegedly tried to force a teenage girl into his van in Gympie yesterday.
The 17-year-old told police she was walking to work along River Rd between Mt Pleasant and Centro shopping centre at about 8.30am when a dirty, white, older-style van stopped next to her.
Gympie CIB detectives said the man asked the girl if she needed a lift and then got out of his vehicle.
He allegedly grabbed her from behind and dragged her towards the van.
She told police the man punched her in the face, but she kneed him and escaped, running off down the road.
Gympie police put out an alert yesterday and released a comfit of the suspect.
He's described as having an aged appearance (50s - 60s) with a limp, overweight with a beer belly, wavy shoulder-length mousey-brown hair and a mole on the right side of his forehead.
Police said the man had a silver chain around his neck and was wearing blue work shorts and a grey singlet.
The van was described as dirty, with a rusty roof, a thin black strip down the sides and a sliding side door.
Gympie Police urge anyone who recognises the suspect, or has information that could lead to an arrest to phone Gympie police on 1800 333 000.
