Police: Man Tries To Lure 14-Year-Old Girl Walking Home From School In Brooklyn
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police are looking for a man they said who tried to lure a teenage girl as she was walking home from school in Brooklyn.
The 14-year-old victim was walking on East 7th Street in Midwood around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday when the suspect came up to her, put his arm around her and tried to lure her, police said.
The victim told police the man said, "Come here, come here." The suspect held on to her arm when she tried to run away, but the victim eventually managed to free herself, police said.
A staffer from a nearby school was passing and noticed what was going on. Having that witness there appeared to make the suspect nervous enough to let go of the girl and flee on foot.
No injuries were reported.
Residents in the area say the incident is alarming, and that teaching children to have awareness of their surroundings is crucial.
"I'm very big on stranger danger, to me it's very important," Peshie White, a Sheepshead Bay resident, told CBS2's Dave Carlin.
"I walk her wherever she goes. She knows to scream if anybody bothers her. That's why I told my kids just yell and scream," Esther Halwali, another resident, told CBS2.
And area resident Stephanie Sharaby told 1010 WINS' Carol D'Auria that many girls walk home from school in the neighborhood. She has five daughters, and she said the news of the attempted luring is very disturbing.
She will also have yet another talk with their daughters.
"I'm going to tell them to always have their cellphones on them, and not to stop when they see somebody coming next to them; to run," she said. "Very scary."
Police describe the suspect as a white man, approximately 20-years-old, 5'8" tall, 150 pounds, with brown eyes, short black hair, and medium complexion. He was last seen wearing a white collared shirt, a black jacket, black pants and black shoes.
Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS, visit the Crime Stoppers website, or text tips to 274637 (CRIMES) and enter TIP577.
The family of the victim had no comment, but told CBS2 they are very grateful for the school staffer who stepped in to help.