A man who attempted to abduct a young woman on the New South Wales Central Coast on Sunday is believed to be the same person who sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl three weeks ago.

Police have appealed to the local community for help to find the man, who is believed to be responsible for the two attacks at Narara.

Strike Force Garawan was established after the sexual and indecent assault of the 12-year-old girl, as she walked along a path through bushland on her way to school on May 15.

Police said the same taskforce was now investigating the attempted abduction of an 18-year-old woman near Narara Railway Station on Sunday.

Officers have been told the woman got off a train just before 4:30pm and walked along Narara Valley Drive and into a laneway leading to Koninderie Parade.

She was approached from behind by a man who grabbed her around the neck.

The woman told police she kicked the man and broke free, and ran towards Koninderie Parade calling out for help.

She contacted emergency services after seeing the man walk away toward Narara Valley Drive.

The man involved in the attempted abduction is described as being in his mid-20s, about 175cm tall with a chubby build, ginger, blond hair and blue eyes.

He was wearing a grey hooded jumper, long camouflage pants and black heavy boots.

Police said he also had a loose covering over his face that exposed his eyes and nose.

Man in earlier sex assault also wore camouflage outfit

The path where 12-year-old girl was sexually assaulted in May. ( ABC News: Mary-Lou Vince )

The 12-year-old girl involved in the earlier attack told police she was tied up and sexually assaulted by a man while she walked along a path between Reeves and Carrington streets at Narara.

He also carried a hunting knife.

The man is described as being aged in his mid-20s, about 180cm tall with a chubby build, with grey, blond hair and blue eyes.

At the time he was wearing a knitted camouflage shirt, camouflage pants over navy blue pants, and a camouflage hat, with a loose covering over his face that exposed his eyes and nose.

He was also carrying a camouflage bag.



After that attack, police said they would be patrolling the area around the pathway which is a commonly used thoroughfare.

'Child abduction is very rare,' police say

Detective Acting Superintendent Mick Haddow, the Commander of State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad, said police believed the two crimes were linked as the description of the offender was strikingly similar in both cases.

"It's concerning to us that it's possible that this person may live in the local area," he said.

"We have extra patrols in the Narara area and we are doing everything we can to assure the public that we are giving this job as many resources as we can."

He has urged anyone who knows anyone who fits the description and wears camouflage gear to contact police.

"These types of investigations rely heavily upon community assistance," he said.

Detective Superintendent Haddow declined to disclose whether police had identified a suspect.

"At this stage it's an ongoing investigation and I can't discuss lines of inquiry or specifics in relation to the matter, but certainly we are in such a position that we are seeking help from the public," he said.

"Child abduction is very rare in most cases, it's certainly a rare crime in New South Wales.

"It's concerning that a person would be prepared to wear camouflage clothing and cover their face in a way that this person has … it certainly says something about the criminality of the person involved."

In the wake of the latest attack, police have urged the local community to be vigilant with their safety and encourage parents to talk to their children about 'Safe People, Safe Places'.