Attempted abduction of seven-year-old caught on camera: "I don't want her outside anymore at all"



MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee police are asking for your help identifying a suspect who is accused of trying to abduct a seven-year-old girl who was playing in front of her home on Thursday afternoon, July 30th.

It happened shortly after 3:00 p.m. near N. 17th and W. Highland Avenue.

This attempted abduction was captured via surveillance cameras.



The child was playing in front of her residence when she was approached by a man who attempted to talk the child into coming with him. When the child refused, the man attempted to pick her up, but the child was able to resist his efforts and run away.

Surveillance video shows attempted abduction of seven-year-old girl



The child returned home and her mother contacted Milwaukee police.

The little girl wasn't injured -- but she's shaken up by what happened. This, as neighbors are praising her for her bravery.

Police have not been able to take the suspect into custody.

A mother of two, who didn't want to be identified, told FOX6 News she was horrified to learn the attempted abduction occurred near where she teaches.

"I was very scared. A little freaked out," the woman said.

On Friday morning, she had a very important conversation with her students before their daily trip to the park.

"It was a little scary having to break that news to our students -- but it was very important they knew how to conduct themselves outside of a school building," the woman said.

Attempted abduction near 17th and Highland



Her message to her students? Don't talk to strangers.

Sheila West lives in the area, and says what happened has her on edge.

"It's just scary. We got to watch our kids more and more and more. They can't even play out here in the playground. Here comes somebody want to grab our kids and that's wrong. I hope they catch him real, real, real soon. Real soon," West said.

The mother of the seven-year-old girl who was nearly abducted on Thursday afternoon says she's taught her young daughter what to do if she's approached by a stranger.

"I tell her every day -- 'This is what you do if somebody comes. You better kick. You better bite. You better do something,'" the girl's mother told FOX6 News.

This mother's advice came in handy for the little girl on Thursday afternoon as she was playing in the courtyard outside her apartment building.

"I'm still shocked. Like, why my baby? She said he didn`t touch her in the wrong place or nothing. He just was like -- she said he grabbed her, cradled her and tried to run with her. I don't even want her outside anymore like, at all!" the girl's mother said.

The girl's mother says she's thankful her daughter is doing okay, and that she's safe.

"She`s doing fine. She`s still a little shook up or whatever, but she's doing fine. She`s a survivor -- that`s what she is," the girl's mother said.

The suspect is described as a black male in his early 20s with a short haircut. He was wearing a light colored tank top and green shorts. He fled the scene southbound on N. 17th Street and then eastbound on W. Highland Avenue.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Milwaukee police at 414-935-7401.