Bay Area on Alert Following Antioch Kidnapping

Bay Area police departments are investigating a recent string of reported kidnappings.

The crimes began late Friday when a 7-year-old Antioch girl was abducted and rescued.

MORE: Abducted Antioch Girl Found Safe, Suspect Arrested

Police said the high-profile Antioch case may have given two other women the courage to call police.

"Generally when we have a crime we have either copy cats or we are more attune to it," San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer said.

Manheimer was at a Violence Against Women workshop held Monday in San Francisco. She said Friday's abduction in Antioch "really is a wake up call for all of us."

In San Francisco, a 24-year-old woman said a man forced her into a car at Folsom and Spear streets Saturday night and took her to a location in the Mission District, where she was able to walk away Sunday and call police.

MORE: Woman Says She Was Drugged, Kidnapped and Assaulted

In Oakland, a 19-year-old woman said on Jan. 1 a man with a gun grabbed her on the 200 block of 17th Street, but she was able to get away.

"Folks are coming forward that would not have thought about it and now are reporting it because they recognize how serious it is," Manheimer said.

The police chief said Bay Area police departments are now focusing on getting services for everyone involved in a crime to try and stop the cycle.

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