Police say Renee Luan is now in custody. They accuse him of trying to kidnap two little girls. This week. Cbs's Richard Allen is here with more on the high tech tool that was used to help locate the suspect. Richard. Well, that's right. It was an automated license plate reader that helped police find and ultimately arrest Luhan. Now thankfully, witnesses had been able to jot down the suspect's license plate as he fled after that first kidnapping attempt, which turned out to be a critical piece of information and ultimately bringing the suspect to justice. I can't imagine the trauma these families have experienced through these two incidents. Two kidnapping attempts within the span of three days, both at the Mission Valley Mall. The first one on Tuesday afternoon when a stranger targeted a six year old girl who was with her mother as they strolled through the mall. He approached the child picked up the child and attempted to flee with the child in his arms. The girl resisted starting to scream and try prompting the would be kidnapper to finally release her. He then fled. Although witnesses spotted him getting into a black 2013 Chevy Volt and even got the license plate number. And then earlier today, another kidnapping attempt at the same mall this time targeting a five year old girl who the suspect tried to shove into his car, but who was ultimately released. The suspect in that similar incident is uh believed to possibly be the same suspect as the first case. And then just hours after that second attempt, an arrest thanks in large part to having the suspect's license plate number. Having that information was crucial to identifying and apprehending the suspect which we just did prior to this press conference, police say they pulled over and later arrested 42 year old Rene Lujan as he was driving eastbound along the 94 near Home Avenue, a license plate reader positioned in the downtown San Diego area spotted the suspect's car and alerted authorities. Officers responded to the scene, saturated the area and eventually located the vehicle. They got the suspect in custody who was later positively identified by the witness. In the first case. San Diego police first began using automated license plate recognition technology last fall technology that helped police make an arrest today. Just great police work getting somebody who obviously has no business being on the street behind bars. E Lujan is being booked into county jail facing at least one count of attempted kidnapping. They say they're now working, actively working to determine if the second kidnapping attempt that happened earlier. Today is tied to the first and the suspect descriptions are extremely similar. Anna Laurel. Now, Richard, did police say how these two little girls who were really nearly kidnapped? How they're doing? Well, they said today that understandably they are traumatized. Now, the San Diego Police Department is working with the District Attorney's office to make sure that they are getting the resources that they need. The counseling, the therapy. They said there are a lot of resources out there. They're making sure they're taking care of those little girls and their families. Very disturbing incidents. So glad that there's uh an arrest tonight and that they have some, some information and that evidence uh, with the license plate reader. Just fascinating. Thanks so much Richard.
