KIDNAPPING REPORT SPURS POLICE PATROLS.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

Sheriff's officials increased patrols Friday following an attempted kidnapping of two teen-age girls walking to school, sheriff's officials said.

A 17-year-old Antelope Valley High School student and a 13-year-old New Vista Middle School student were walking on 15th Street East north of Avenue J about 6:40 a.m. when a brown two-door 1990s Cadillac pulled up beside them and its occupants - two men in their 20s - began talking to them.

``The suspects kept saying, `Hey, what is your name, what is your name?' and `Get in the car,' '' Deputy Marty Shearer said.

As the girls became frightened and started walking faster, the men got out of the car and walked after them. When the girls backed up against a brick wall, the men grabbed their arms.

The girls began screaming, and the men ran back to their car and drove away.

``Whether the girls' screaming startled them we don't know,'' said Shearer. ``But fortunately, they took off.''

The girls did not recognize the men, Shearer said.

Officials said this was the Antelope Valley's third instance in six months in which a juvenile reported a kidnapping attempt; the other two turned out to be false.

``Sometimes kids make things up,'' Shearer said. ``But this seems to be pretty legit.''

For now, sheriff's officials have increased patrols in the area.

Officials said that two female joggers in the area may have witnessed the incident, and investigators are trying to contact them.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lancaster sheriff's station at [phone] or call the Crime Tip hotline at (805) 948-COPS.