A man tried to grab an 11-year-old girl on her way to school in Auckland today.
Police said the man followed her for about 200m on St Heliers Bay Rd between 8am and 8.20am.
Detective Inspector Scott Beard said the man grabbed her as she got to the school, but she broke free, running to tell her teacher, who called the police.
The girl was shaken but uninjured.
"It is commendable that the young girl told an adult about what has happened."
Police said the man was possibly in his 40s and tall, of solid build, with a cut on the top of one of his wrists and a piercing on his right eyebrow.
He was wearing a short-sleeved blue top and black pants.
He was described as having light brown skin, with brown-grey hair and a bald patch on top.
Mr Beard said officers would carry out extra patrols in the area for the rest of the week.
