Girl nearly snatched from home in overnight kidnapping attempt

PASADENA, TX (KTRK) -- Pasadena police are investigating the attempted abduction of a little girl overnight. Officers were called to the Alta Vista apartments on Richey Street at about 2:30am.

A mother says a man broke in through a front window of her apartment and entered a bedroom where several children were sleeping.

The man picked up a 9-year-old girl and walked out the front door. As he was going down the steps, the girl woke up and started screaming. The girl got away and ran back to the apartment. The mother told police she caught a glimpse of the guy down the street.

The family's next door neighbors woke when they heard the noise.

"We just heard her scream and we thought she was playing because we all play all the time," said neighbor, Ashley Mejia. "I came out and she was already with her mom, she was crying, scared." She added that the mother's boyfriend ran after the intruder but couldn't catch him.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his mid 20's, wearing a white shirt, blue jeans, earrings in both ears, and possibly having a mustache.

Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspect is encouraged to contact the Pasadena Police Department (713-477-1221) or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8477). Callers who wish to remain anonymous should contact Crime Stoppers. Information provided by the caller to Crime Stoppers that leads to the arrest of the suspect is eligible for a cash reward up to $5000.