Girl Thwarts Kidnapper Outside Vista Ice Cream Shop

VISTA, CA — A would-be kidnapper in the Vista area is at large after trying to grab a 13-year-old girl in front of an ice cream shop Saturday night, police said.

Authorities are searching for the man and warning residents to be on the lookout.

According to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, the girl was waiting for her brother in front of the Water Shack ice cream shop at 807 N. Santa Fe Ave. around 8:30 p.m. Saturday when the suspect approached her. He tried "to coax the victim to come with him," and then "reached out and grabbed her by the sweater," according to sheriff's Lt. David Buether.

The girl was able to escape his clutch and ran inside the business where her older brother was waiting, according to Buether.

According to investigators, the man fled on a "razor-type" scooter and was last seen traveling west on West Connecticut Avenue. Deputies searched the area with assistance from the sheriff's ASTREA helicopter but didn't locate the suspect, Buether said.

According to the girl, her attacker was about 6 feet tall and weighed about 160 pounds, with a light complexion and thin build. He is believed to be about 30 years old and was last seen wearing a dark-colored beanie, zip-up hooded sweatshirt and pants, Buether said.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call the sheriff's department or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477.

City News Service and Patch Staffer contributed to this report.