OAKLAND, Calif. -- Police are sending a warning going out to parents in Oakland's Chinatown Thursday night to keep close tabs on their children after two attempted abductions of young children in the area.

The attempted kidnappings took place at Madison Park and Lincoln Elementary School. The bold abduction attempts took place in broad daylight with lots of adults around. Fortunately, people nearby weren't afraid to get involved.

In the first incident happened on September 2nd. Police say the suspect came onto Lincoln Elementary School grounds as classes were ending and grabbed the hand of a four-year-old girl. An alert parent confronted the man.

"She went up to the man and said 'That's my friend's daughter.' He said 'I know the mother.' She felt that was a suspicious way to respond, so she took the girls hand and took her back inside the school," explained Lincoln Elementary School Principal John Melvin.

Ever since the incident, parents have been required to come inside to pick-up kids. Lincoln's 600 families with children attending the school have been cautioned.

"It's a big concern of ours, because these are small children involved. Without the assistance of onlookers it could have turned into a disastrous situation," said Oakland Police Sgt. Michael Poirier.

Police say a week later, an eight-year-old boy was accosted at Dragon Park during a soccer game. This time a coach noticed and intervened. The suspects could be the same person, but witnesses described the first man as much younger than the second.

"It's very hard for the school to monitor, because the staff cannot know all the parents. But somehow they should be able to work out a safer way," said parent Valerie Lee.

Early Thursday evening Oakland police held a safety meeting with parents to address their concerns.