Investigators have released an early sketch of the man being sought for an attempted kidnapping of two young girls in Whittier on Thursday afternoon, as well as two additional abduction attempts that might be linked to the same man.

The unidentified man left the city after the failed attempt on Thursday near Founders Memorial Park at Broadway and Citrus Avenue. It was there he grabbed an 11-year-old girl and put her in the back seat of a convertible that had its top up. Already inside the car was another girl around 7 years old.

When the suspect walked away from the car, the older girl opened the door, freeing both herself and the 7-year-old. Immediately after both girls ran in opposite directions.

The 11-year-old ran home and the police were notified soon after. However, police have not been able to locate the second girl, yet not children have been reported missing.

The suspect in the attempted kidnapping matched the description of a similar man that had approached three high school-age girls and told them to get in his car in two separate occurrences on Feb. 5.

One incident was took place around 11:25 a.m. in the 13000 block of Broadway, a few blocks east of Founders Memorial Park, as well as the other which was reported about 4:40 p.m. in the 6700 block of Washington Avenue, across the street from Central Park.

In every case, the suspect was driving a red, two-door convertible with a tan top. It also had a softball-sized dent on the right rear panel.

The man was described as Latino, 25 to 30 years old, 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet tall, of medium-to-heavy build, with short hair with a tattoo of three dots on his left hand.

In Thursday’s incident his face was covered with a mask, most likely a ski mask.

Anyone who might have information is asked to contact the Whittier police at (562) 567-9241, or Detective Ken Woods at (562) 567-9286.