Staten Island police are searching for a man wanted in the attempted kidnapping and sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl who was lured into a taxi on Saturday morning. The teen was approached outside 55 Richmond Terrace, taken in the cab to an undisclosed location, and assaulted before she managed to escape to safety. The suspect fled on foot and remained at large, according to authorities.
How police say it unfolded
According to FOX 5 New York, the man first lured the girl to a nearby deli and then put her into a taxi at about 9 a.m. on Saturday. Police say the cab took them to an undisclosed location, where the suspect allegedly grabbed the victim. She broke free and ran to safety. Investigators described the suspect as unidentified and asked the public to help locate him.
Where it happened
The encounter was reported outside 55 Richmond Terrace in St. George, the listed street address for Empire Outlets, a waterfront retail complex near the Staten Island Ferry. Empire Outlets notes its proximity to the ferry terminal and local transit connections.
Police ask the public to help
Authorities urged anyone who witnessed the encounter or who recognizes the man to contact investigators and submit tips. The NYPD’s Crime Stoppers program lays out anonymous reporting options on its information page, explaining the hotline and mobile app methods for submitting tips and noting potential rewards for information that leads to arrests, according to NYPD Crime Stoppers.
Context
Officials say the incident adds urgency to broader concerns about luring and attempted abduction reports in the region this spring. Law enforcement elsewhere has investigated similar attempts, including a Long Island case reported by NBC New York and a separate April incident in Uniondale covered by ABC7 New York. Police stress that quick reporting and community tips are crucial to preventing repeat offenses and catching suspects.
The NYPD asks anyone with immediate information to call 911. Tips specific to this investigation should be directed to Crime Stoppers. Investigators continue to review surveillance and follow leads, and anyone who believes they saw something near 55 Richmond Terrace on Saturday morning is asked to come forward.
