Attempted abduction of 10-year-old girl from Kitchener school

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Elementary School is seen on Friday, Nov. 21, 2014.

Parents at Our Lady Grace Catholic School are on edge after the attempted abduction of a young student on Wednesday.

Waterloo Regional Police say an unknown woman showed up at the school around 9 a.m., teachers asked about her presence.

“Apparently lost and said so, said they were looking for another school in the vicinity and was pointed in that direction and went away,” said John Shewchuk of the Waterloo Catholic School Board.

According to police, the woman returned to the school at approximately 3:50 p.m., and made it in to the school, even though the schools front doors are kept locked.

She then called a 10-year-old girl  – by name –  and told her she was there to pick her up, say police.

“The student did not recognize the woman, and basically walked away from the situation. We are treating this as an attempt abduction,” said Olaf Heinzel, of the Waterloo Regional Police Service.

Police are looking for a woman described as Asian, 5'4 with a thin build, and shoulder length dark hair.

The school says the doors are locked, and visitors must buzz to get in.

The Catholic Board says that during the dismissal, it’s likely the woman slipped in as students were leaving.

“Security is as tight as it could possibly be under the circumstances, without turning our schools into armed fortresses, unwelcoming places and scaring the students,” said Shewchuk.

Our Lady of Grace and Alpine Public School nearby, both sent letter home about this incident.