Police Release Photos Of Suspect In Attempted Abduction At Valley Stream Kohl's
VALLEY STREAM, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Police have released surveillance images of a woman who they said is wanted for an attempted abduction of a baby at a store on Long Island.
It happened Thursday at the Green Acres Mall Kohl's department store in Valley Stream.
Kristen Powers was in the first-floor bathroom with her 1-year-old child when police said another woman walked in and said, "That is a beautiful baby."
After walking around the bathroom, the suspect approached Powers, grabbed the baby's arm and said "Give me the baby," police said.
"She put her hand on his forearm and as soon as she did that, I pushed her hand away and she said 'give me the baby' again, a second time," Powers, said.
Powers said she managed to run from the bathroom with her son in her arms, fumbling with her belongings.
"I happened to run into an officer who was in Kohl's as part of holiday security," Powers said. "He was Nassau County, he was extremely helpful. He put a call out, within three minutes there were eight police officers there."
Police said the suspect left the store in a black livery cab.
The suspect is described by police as a Hispanic woman, 5'5" tall with long blonde hair. She was wearing a blue jacket, a yellow shirt and a multi-colored skirt.
Nassau investigators said it is possible the woman was drunk or on drugs, emotionally disturbed or it was possibly a misunderstanding due to a language barrier.
Anyone with information is asked to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.