Altamonte authorities look for men who tried luring teen girls into truck

Altamonte Springs officers have stepped up patrols for a suspicious man who's now tried to kidnap at least three young girls.

Investigators said since Friday, they've received three separate reports of a man trying to pick up young girls.

The most recent incident was Tuesday near West Town Parkway and State Road 434 involving a  14-year-old girl.

Two other girls, ages 14 and 15, reported a similar man in a distinct truck trying to lure them along SR 434 an hour apart on Friday.

Police said they are looking for an industrial truck that was seen Tuesday driving down Pearl Lake Parkway. The man inside approached a student, and she ran for help, police said.

"It's scary considering it's one of our friends and we have to continue walking to school," student Michelle Osorio said.

"God help him if I get a hold of him and he tries to touch my daughter," parent Lisa Turner said.

So far, he's targeted Lake Brantley students and a Teague middle-schooler.

Police said the man only speaks Spanish, and says obscene things to the girls.

After these incidents, students and parents are questioning safety in the 434 corridor.

Altamonte Springs police and Seminole County deputies teamed up hoping to catch the man. They've beefed up patrols in the area and more. But even if they find him, he might not face jail time.

Officer Rob Pelton said so far the man has only been talking to the girls and that's not a crime.

"Luring involves a child 12 years or younger. If this goes on, then we could look at things like stalking," said Pelton, of the Altamonte Springs Police Department.

In all three cases, the girls described a white industrial truck, possibly a Ford, with a wooden flat bed and a red coiled hose in the rear.

Police said there was only a driver in the truck Friday. There were two men on Tuesday.

Both men are Hispanic, between 30 and 40 years old.

Their descriptions are vague: one is slim with dark hair, the other chubby with white hair.