Police seek suspect and stolen car in connection with sexual assault of 12-year-old girl.
Philadelphia police are actively pursuing a suspect connected to the abduction and sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl in the Tioga-Nicetown neighborhood on Friday evening. This troubling incident has raised significant concerns about child safety within the community.
According to police reports, the young girl was sleeping in the back seat of a 2020 Ford Taurus, which was idling with the keys in the ignition, when an unidentified man stole the vehicle. The theft occurred around 9:30 PM at the intersection of Germantown and Erie Avenues. Approximately 25 minutes later, the girl was located abandoned about half a mile away, near the intersection of Broad Street and Roosevelt Boulevard, where she was discovered to have been sexually assaulted.
In response to this harrowing event, emergency services transported the victim to a local hospital for medical evaluation and care. Authorities describe the suspect as thin and dressed entirely in dark clothing. At this time, the stolen Ford Taurus remains unrecovered.
In light of these serious developments, police are urging anyone with pertinent information regarding the case to reach out to the Special Victims Unit at 215-685-3251 or to call the Philadelphia Police Department’s (PPD) tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477).
This incident marks the second child abduction involving a stolen vehicle within a mere 48-hour span, highlighting a disturbing trend. Earlier in the week, a 6-year-old boy was taken when his mother’s car was stolen while parked outside a Save A Lot supermarket located in the 5800 block of North Pulaski Avenue in Germantown. The mother had briefly left the child—who had recently undergone treatment for a broken leg—sleeping in the backseat as she entered the store. Fortunately, law enforcement was able to locate the abandoned vehicle and the child, who was still asleep, just a block away shortly thereafter.
As investigations continue in both cases, officials have yet to make any arrests. The community is advised to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to authorities.
