Temecula, California - On Tuesday, March 11, 2008, officers from Temecula Police Department’s School Resource Officer Team, Patrol, and the Southwest Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Task Force, responded to two incidents of attempted kidnapping in the City of Temecula. The first incident was reported about 3:22 PM in the area Cantebury Court and Flag Way. A 13 year old female juvenile was walking home when a male driving a white van stopped near her. The male threatened to shoot the victim if she did not get into his van. The victim ran away and called dispatch. Officers found the juvenile victim and started checking the area for the suspect.


While officers and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Air Unit checked the area for the suspect’s white van, a second incident was reported about 3:48 PM, near Vintage Hills Elementary School. The second incident also involved a white male suspect driving a white van. The male stopped near an 11 year old female and he told her to get into his van several times. The victim got scared and walked away toward her father’s nearby truck. The victim’s father approached the white van and talked to the male suspect. The suspect started to drive away and the victim’s father was able to write down the van’s license plate.

Officers were able to locate the suspect’s van which was found parked at the suspect’s home located in the 43000 block of Sereno Dr, Temecula. The suspect Clifford Alvarez (age 41) was identified by the victims and witness and he was arrested for two counts of attempted kidnapping and one count of criminal threats.

It is important to keep an eye out for these type of people and teach your children about how to respond in the event they are approached or questioned in a way that is inappropriate.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Temecula Police Department at (951) 696-3000 or (951) 696-HELP.