By Ayala Ben-Yehuda
But unlike 11-year-old Carlie Brucia of Sarasota, Fla., the Queens teen managed to flee to safety after the would-be kidnapper was scared off by a passerby.
The unidentified 15-year-old girl was walking along Vleigh Place near 73rd Terrace about 6 p.m. Saturday when a dark sedan drove up next to her, police and a friend of the girl said.
A white man in his 20s or 30s came out of the car and tried to pull the girl into the vehicle, but she was able to flee after a struggle, police said.
The girl, who was unhurt, ran to the nearby house of a 17-year-old boy, who with friends had walked part of the way home with her during a break between afternoon and evening services at the Congregation Etz Chaim synagogue on 73rd Avenue.
“She said someone had tried to grab her,” said the boy, an assistant youth director at the temple who asked not to be identified.
The attacker came up behind the girl and grabbed her neck and face, he said.
“There was someone else walking by and I guess he got frightened,” he said.
The girl described her attacker as tall with dark hair, and his car had yellow license plates, the boy said. Police had not arrested anyone by Sunday afternoon.
“I'm just thankful she got away,” he said. “I just feel guilty that I didn't walk her all the way (home).”
The boy said he would be telling the children at his synagogue “to be alert wherever they go.”
Local resident Steve Aron, whose daughter is a friend of the victim, said parents had already adopted that practice by keeping a close eye on their children – especially in light of the Brucia case.
“People are afraid,” Aron said. “Just the parallels, it scares people.”
Councilman Jim Gennaro (D-Fresh Meadows) met with 107th Precinct Commanding Officer Capt. Charles Talamo and community leaders the day after the kidnapping attempt.
“After speaking with Captain Talamo, I am confident that every conceivable police resource is being deployed to investigate this incident and enhance security in our neighborhood, especially around our schools and any areas where children congregate,” said Gennaro in a statement.
“Beginning immediately, the Police Department is sending representatives to local public and private schools to educate students on the best ways to avoid, recognize and react to situations like the one that took place Saturday.”
Congregation Etz Chaim Rabbi Moshe Greenberg said “we're going to be alerting our members that they have to be vigilant.”
“Thank God the girl is fine,” Greenberg said of the 15-year-old member of his congregation.
“People have to walk in groups,” he said. “People have to keep their wits about them.”
Reach reporter Ayala Ben-Yehuda by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 146.
