By Thomas TracyA 12-year-old girl was abducted off a Bay Ridge street and nearly raped during a horrific kidnapping attempt on May 11, police said.
The young victim told police that she was on her way to school at 7:50 am when the unhinged man grabbed her at the corner of 12th Avenue and 67th Street, dragged her down the block and shoved her into the back of a double-parked green Jeep Loredo.
The thug groped the girl, but the plucky tween fought off the man and escaped, police said.
Losing his prey, the panicked molester sped off in his SUV, which was photographed leaving the area.
The NYPD put out a sketch on Friday, describing the kidnapper as a 6-foot dark-skinned man in his mid-30s with short black hair.
News of the near-abduction came as a shock for those living along the leafy, tree-lined strip of single-family homes between Regina Pacis grade school and PS 187, where the 12-year-old was heading before she was attacked.
“I couldn’t believe this could happen here,” said one resident as she waited for the mailman on Monday morning.
The scene was almost Rockwellian in nature as she sat on the stoop between streets named in honor of Annie Lautatos and 9-11 victim Arturo Angelo. Behind the woman, who wished not to give her name, both American and Italian flags flapped lazily in the breeze. “For the most part, this is a really safe area.”
Inspector Eric Rodriguez, the commanding officer of the 68th Precinct, said that his officers are doubling patrols along 12th Avenue, especially in the morning. At the same time, cops are distributing the sketch of their suspect, hoping someone will recognize him.
“We are constantly looking for people who could be involved in this,” he said. “We’ve also spoken to the local schools. We want these children to know that they should walk together and if they ever feel uncomfortable for any reason, they should find an adult and contact us immediately.”
The latest attack is the first such high-profile incident since September, 2008, when a woman was grabbed outside of her Fort Hamilton Parkway home, forced into her basement and sexually assaulted.
That rapist, who apologized to the victim as he committed the heinous act, was later arrested.
The May 11 attack is the fifth sex attack in the 68th Precinct this year, although all previous victims knew their assailants, sources said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the NYPD CrimeStoppers hotline at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
