A man kidnapped a woman in Sylmar Wednesday, grabbing her by the hair and throwing her into a minivan in a violent abduction caught on camera.
The kidnapping occurred about 12:30 p.m. in the area of El Dorado Avenue and El Cajon Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Police released video of the abduction in an attempt to identify the victim and attacker.
The video, provided by a resident with a security camera, shows the victim walking alongside the street when a minivan pulls up next to her. She can be seen talking with a heavy-set man who got out of the Chrysler minivan, possibly a Town and Country, police said.
"The female attempts to walk away, but the male follows her," according to a police statement. "He then opens the sliding door of the van as he continues to talk to her. The male grabs her by the hair and forcibly throws her inside the van."
The woman tries to escape, but the man pushes her back into the van before he gets into the driver's seat and drives off with the victim still inside, police said.
The homeowner who provided the security camera video to police told NBC4 he heard arguing and looked outside his house.
"I heard, 'I don't want to go. My mom's going to come pick me up,'" he said, adding that the man repeatedly told the woman to "get in the f------ car. "
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The woman appears to be Hispanic, 25-35 years old with long back hair. The man is around 30-35 years old and weighs about 250 pounds. He wore a baseball cap turned backwards.
"It appears as if the suspect and the victim know each other," police said, adding that the motive for the kidnapping is unknown.
Anyone with information about the kidnapping was urged to call the LAPD's Mission Station at 818-838-9800.
After-hours and weekend calls should be directed to 877-LAPD-24-7 and anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling 800-222-TIPS.
