Waikato Mongrel Mob leader Sonny Fatupaito tells kidnappers to hand themselves into police before his gang finds them.

The head of the Waikato's biggest gang has a message for the three men involved in the attempted abduction of a Hamilton schoolgirl: Hand yourselves in.

Waikato Mongrel Mob rangatira (leader) Sonny Fatupaito is using his contacts to try to locate the three men involved in the attempted abduction on Thursday. His message to them is clear.

"What you are doing is something that is sickening. Makes you wonder what goes on in people's heads like this. To go out there and try and snatch a child off the street? All I would like to say is, it is better for you to go and hand yourselves in, or people might take the law into their own hands and take care of it," Fatupaito said.

CHRISTEL YARDLEY/FAIRFAX NZ Waikato Mongrel Mob leader Sonny Fatupaito is helping hunt down three men who were involved in the attempted abduction of a schoolgirl in Hamilton.

"Our networks are all over the motu - all over the country. You know, they can even extend as far as Australia, as well. I've touched base with the main people I need to touch base with."

Fatupaito is aware of people's skepticism about gangs, but his motivation to help comes down to one thing: He is a father, too.

He said the gang didn't know the 12-year-old girl and is simply outraged a child can't safely walk to school.

Police are hunting the kidnapper and two other men. The kidnapper was described as shoeless and wearing only striped socks when he attacked the girl in Abbotsford Street at 8.30am.

Police said after the abduction attempt that a vehicle with two other men inside was parked nearby with the motor running.

As she was grabbed, the girl managed to get away and ran to school, alerting teachers, Whitiora Primary School principal Paul Cooper said.

Fatupaito wants to assist police and use his networks to hunt the men down.

"You know they [police] can't do it all on their own. You know, whether police like to accept this or not, we're just members of the community, too," Fatupaito said.

"So as the second line of defense, we're in there doing the very best that we can. Parents who this child belongs to, I wonder what's going through their heads right now and for the child herself? There's some pretty sick stuff out there."

The Waikato Mob and their networks across the country are looking for the car involved, which is described as a silver mid-1990s Nissan Pulsar four-door sedan. Police have said the sedan has red rose stickers around the driver-side front guard and had damage to the rear.

Fatupaito wouldn't elaborate on who his networks are, other than to confirm they are also looking for the car and its occupants. He said any information he receives will be handed to police.

"We are associated with different types of networks, so we are out there communicating to them. But at the same time, you know, if information came to us, we would rather police take care of that," Fatupaito said.

"We wouldn't want to take care of any of that side of stuff. We will let the law take its course."

"I've got a 10 year old who goes to school just around the corner. He's always accompanied, no matter what. Most kids nowadays, especially when they're 10, their parents will just let them walk. Not this guy. He finds that a little bit hard at times, you know, when he wants to just walk with his mates, but that's just the way I like to be: super careful.

"You know, it just goes to show, when you think places are safe, especially around schools, well, they're not - not at all. What's it all turning into now?"

​Detective Senior Sergeant Daryl Smith said on Monday that police were continuing the hunt for the trio, but had no witnesses so far.

"We would have thought at that time of the morning, outside the school it is busy with lots of parents dropping their kids off, there may have been something."

He refused comment on the gang's plan.

Police described the alleged attacker as a short Maori man, between 30 and 40, wearing a black beanie, white singlet and dark baggy pants. He was wearing red and black striped socks pulled up over his pants and no shoes.

Police would also like to hear from a woman walking a Siberian Husky puppy along Abbotsford Street around 8.30am who may have seen the incident.