Girl, 6, nearly kidnapped by stranger inside Manhattan subway station

Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News on Sep 3, 2026

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NEW YORK — A 6-year-old girl was nearly kidnapped by a stranger at an Upper Manhattan subway station — and police are asking the public’s help finding the woman who tried to snatch the child.

The victim was approaching the turnstiles in the mezzanine of the Inwood-207th Street subway station when she was confronted about 12:30 p.m. July 29, cops said.

The girl’s father told ABC 7 New York his daughter was headed to a therapy appointment with her 36-year-old mother and younger brother.

His wife was holding their young son while their daughter stood nearby and was preparing to swipe her OMNY card at the turnstile when the would-be kidnapper grabbed her.

“Once she took my daughter, she held her like that, tight,” the victim’s father, Ramiro Heras, told the station. “My daughter starts screaming. She was like, ‘Mom, Mom, Mom!'”

As the stranger attempted to go through the turnstile and into the subway with the girl, the mother yelled, “Let go,” police said.

But the kidnapper had trouble swiping her own card though to get through the turnstile. “The toll didn’t go through,” Heras said. “Otherwise, she was taking my daughter with her.”

The suspect gave up, leaving the girl, and then managed to flee onto a downtown A train, cops said.

“Why did she do what she did?” Heras said. “That’s what I want to ask her.”

Over a month later, the woman has not been caught. Meanwhile, the young girl remains traumatized and no longer wants to ride the trains, her father told ABC 7 New York.

Surveillance photos released this week by the NYPD show the suspect at the turnstiles sporting a light blue wide-rimmed hat, large black sunglasses and a patterned black-and-white shirt.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Crime Stoppers (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.

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