Watch: LAPD releases video of woman sought in 2 kidnapping attempts of boys in South LA
LOS ANGELES (KTLA) — Police released surveillance video of a pair of attempted abductions over the weekend in South Los Angeles.
The first incident occurred around 6 p.m. Sunday. The victim went to a restaurant when she was approached by the would-be abductor, who demanded she hand over her 1-year-old brother, whom she was carrying, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
The woman claimed the child was hers and tried to grab him, according to an LAPD news release.
The assailant followed the pair back to their vehicle, where she then again tried to take the boy from his sister’s arms, police said. The victim screamed for help, and a nearby man stepped in to assist her.
“Thankfully, a good Samaritan was in the area, you can see in the video, and we would like to identify him as well,” LAPD Detective Liliana Preciado told NewsNation affiliate KTLA. “He was walking just in the parking lot and sees this occurring and scares away the suspect.”
Soon afterward, the same assailant went to a gated apartment and attempted to grab a 5-year-old who was with a group of children playing in the courtyard, according to the release.
That attempted kidnapping was also thwarted when the boy’s family members stopped her, according to LAPD officials.
The 5-year-old’s sister told KTLA the woman didn’t initially say anything when she approached her brother, using her hands and her face to interact with the child.
Then, she told him to “‘Come here.’ That’s when my brother went up to her. She made some funny faces with him, my brother started laughing. That’s when she put him down, grabbed him by his hand, then started to walk out,” said the sister, who did not want to be identified.
She added her brother is “alright” but “traumatized” over the ordeal.
“He’s just like, more scared to go outside and play now, and … he used to be very social, now he doesn’t really talk,” the sister said.
Authorities have described the wanted woman as about between about 5 feet, 6 inches tall, 20 to 35 years old and approximately 135 pounds. She has short, cropped brown hair.
The woman wore a white shirt, light green shorts and dark slippers at the time of the incidents.
Anyone who recognizes her or has information about the case is asked to call Detective Preciado of the LAPD’s 77th Division, Crimes Against Person Detectives at 323-786-5412. During non-business hours or on the weekends, callers can dial 877-527-3247.