UCI campus police step up patrol after attempted student abduction

(FOX 11) - An attempted abduction on UC Irvine's campus took place Tuesday morning after a man threatening to be armed with a gun, demanding a student get into his car, according to police.

Now police are saying they're stepping up patrol through Wednesday morning.

UC Irvine Police say a man drove up to a woman walking along Arroyo Drive near her home, demanding she get in the car.

She refused.

He demanded again, and told her he had a gun.

She repeated no, at which point he gave up, driving off.
"I was pretty shocked. It's not something you'd expect to happen on this campus," said student Mina Halaka.

He reportedly drove an older model four door Toyota Rav 4 and had some kind of object hanging from his rear view mirror.

Students like Genesis Granados say they don't leave their home without pepper spray, but she never thought she'd have to use it.

"I was just surprised because Irvine is so safe supposedly and I never thought that would happen," said student Genesis Granados.

A rare crime...even for the campus spokesperson.

This is the first time I've ever heard of an attempted abduction in the student community and I've been here 18 years," said UCI spokesperson Tom Vasich.

Campus police want to remind people emergency buttons are located throughout the campus if anyone needs help.

They also want people to know they can always call for a campus escort home.