Police seek kidnapper caught on video forcing woman into van in Sylmar

SYLMAR (FOX 11 / CNS) - A man kidnapped a woman in Sylmar Thursday and police released video of the incident in the hope that someone can help investigators identify the suspect and victim.

The kidnapping occurred about 12:30 p.m. in the 15000 block of El Cajon Street, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

The video shows the victim talking with a heavy-set man near a parked Chrysler minivan, possibly a Town and Country, police said.

"The female attempts to talk 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 vainly 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 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.

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