Man wanted for attempted kidnapping of 7-year-old girl in front of her mother on NYC street

The NYPD says that the incident occurred on May 26 around 8:00 pm near a food truck on Wyckoff Avenue as the child and 36-year-old mother awaited their meal. The suspect grabbed the child from behind but the mother was able to break his grip, preventing the alleged attempted kidnapping, News 12 Brooklyn reports.

Police report that the suspect fled the scene heading down Flushing Avenue, and remains at large.

NYPD Crime Stoppers asked the public for help in identifying the suspect and released a video that shows the man, who was wearing a grey and white hoodie with dark-colored pants, walking down the street.

Photos of the suspect posted to @CrimeInNYC on Twitter show a clearer image of the man's face:

Anyone with information on the suspect is encouraged to call 800-577-TIPS.

The attempted kidnapping comes as violent crime continues to surge in the Big Apple, with a reported 39 percent increase in major crimes between 2021 and 2022.

President of the New York City Police Benevolent Association Patrick Lynch warned that the war on police has resulted in an existential staffing crisis, and the NYPD does not currently employ enough officers to keep the city safe.

3,701 members of the New York Police Department left the force last year. 1,746 quit and 1,955 retired, according to data from the NYC Police Pension Fund. The drop-off marks the largest NYPD staff exit in decades.

"The NYPD is playing a dangerous game by refusing to acknowledge and address its recruitment and retention crisis," President of the New York City Police Benevolent Association Patrick Lynch said, per Fox News. "New Yorkers are demanding more police presence in their neighborhoods and on the subway, but we just don’t have the staffing to provide it consistently."