'Every woman's worst nightmare': Police hunt would-be kidnapper

Saturday, 22 March 2025 07:30

A 20-year-old woman has been left traumatised after she was grabbed from behind by an unknown man just metres from her home in Melbourne's west.

The university student was walking on Thames Boulevard after getting off a bus in Tarneit about 9.15pm on Wednesday.

Detective Sergeant Sean Nicholson said she was approached by a man, who grabbed her around the chest and attempted to drag her towards the road.

Police investigating attempted kidnapping in Melbourne

CCTV captured their struggle and the woman's screams before she managed to break free from her attacker.

The woman was just metres from her uncle Amid Saddi's front door when she was attacked.

Saddi heard his niece's cries of terror. By the time he ran outside she had escaped.

"She was so shocked, she could not even ring the bell, she was just standing there, trembling," he told 9News.

Prior to the attack, the university student had been getting the bus to and from class, using the stop just 60 metres from her uncle's home. She is now too traumatised to do so, Saddi said.

Nicholson said the victim was "extremely distraught and distressed".

He described the attack as "every woman's worst nightmare".

"It's disturbing. You are simply walking home at a reasonable hour at night and then set upon by an unknown male," Nicholson said.

"She was very brave in her reactions and quick and prompt, which no doubt saved anything further bad from happening.

"We are unclear of the motive at this stage of what the offender was trying to do. We are really trying to identify him and hold him to account so that any escalating behaviour is stopped."

The offender is described as being in his late teens or early twenties, about 160 centimetres tall with slim build and short dark hair.

Police said he fled south towards Melpomene Boulevard.

Police are seeking to speak to the driver of a dark-coloured 4WD that was seen in the area at the time of the attempted abduction.

Anyone with information has been urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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