MIAMI (WSVN) - Police are searching for a woman accused of trying to abduct a 5-year-old girl from a Miami-Dade transit bus.
According to Miami Police, the child was sitting near the back of the bus while her mother was standing near the front of the bus paying the driver, at around 5:30 p.m., Wednesday.
A witness told police a woman in a white hoodie who was captured on surveillance video began talking to the girl, asking her where her mother was.
The woman then tried to get the child to get off the bus with her at a bus stop along Northwest 12th Avenue and 36th Street.
“[The woman] attempted to lure the 5-year-old little girl off of the bus by extending her arms and persuading her to get off of that bus,” said Miami Police Officer Kiara Delva.
The ordeal ensued when the mother was paying the bus fee, according to a police report.
The report states that the woman “continued to ask the victim to get off of the bus with her as she caressed the victim’s hand.”
Surveillance shows the woman reaching out to the child just after the bus had stopped at the Metrorail station at Northwest 12th Avenue and 36th Street.
But officials said the girl refused.
“This 5-year-old little girl was not easily persuaded and was very smart and knew not to get off of that bus with that suspect. If she did, the situation could have ended a whole lot differently,” said Delva.
When the woman left the bus, the child told her mother what happened. That’s when the mother asked the bus driver to call police.
“It’s very important for parents in the community to please educate your children,” said Delva. “Please explain to them the risk of getting off the bus with people or taking things from strangers or leaving with any types of strangers.”
Police are looking for a woman, between 40 and 50 years old, with long black curly hair and gold teeth. She was last seen wearing a white hoodie with the word “pink” on the back, and tight black pants. She also wore glasses with black frames.
“We’re hoping that anybody with information to please come forward,” said Delva. “That way we can make contact with this suspect and apprehend her for the actions that she has done.”
If you have any information on this attempted abduction, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a $1,000 reward.
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