Fresno police are looking for a man they believe is connected to two separate kidnapping attempts on Monday morning in central Fresno, just south of the Fresno City College campus.

According to a bulletin released by the State Center Community College District police, the suspect is described as a Hispanic or Asian male, approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and 230 to 250 pounds. The suspect was last seen wearing a gray long sleeve button down shirt, gray sweatpants and a gray beanie with a “pom” on top.

According to a district police bulletin, the first abduction attempt occurred around 8 a.m. near Olive and Wishon avenues.

The Fresno Bee reported that Lt. Joe Gomez said a woman was approached by a man in the Bank of America parking lot and asked for her phone number. When she said no, he offered her $100 to get into a van. She told the man to leave her alone, and he threatened to hit her in the face. The woman sought help from a security guard, and the man fled west on Olive.

The second attempt occurred minutes later near Olive and Clark avenues. Gomez said that a man, meeting the same description, reportedly asked for a woman’s number, and when she said no, he grabbed her by the hips and tried to force her into a van. The woman was able to strike the man and fend him off. The alleged perpetrator returned to his van and drove off westbound on Olive avenue.

The victims in the attempted kidnappings are not FCC students or staff, but the proximity of the incidents to FCC is concerning to some students.

Lexi Lopez, a psychology major, said she does not feel safe on the FCC campus and recalled an incident last semester when she was attacked by a homeless man.

Lopez said she had noticed the man was angry about not getting the change he wanted and noticed he was headed her way. She tried to get out of his way, but the man pulled her by the hair and her “bag went flying” and her “stuff was all over the place.” A nearby football player had come to her rescue and tackled the man to the ground. She said she later reported the attack to the campus police.

“There should be more security on campus, especially at night,” Lopez said in regards to what would make her feel safer.

Alyssa Quintana, who is completing her general education, said if it were possible, the college should try to work on controlling who comes on campus or not.

In a September interview with the Rampage, SCCCD Police Chief Bruce Hartman spoke about how situational awareness is one of the most important things people need to have.

“Be aware of what is around you. Be aware of where you are,” Hartman said.

He also said that if a situation were to arise when somebody comes up behind another person and he or she does not even know that they are there, all he or she can do is react.

“The thing you need to do is decide in your mind of whether ‘Do I have time to get into my car or are they close enough to where when I open my door, I’m not going to be able to close it in time and save myself?’,” Hartman added.