Queens Man Arrested After Trying To Lure 12-Year-Old Girl Into Car: Police

KEY POINTS

Verlon Thomas, 36, allegedly ordered a 12-year-old girl to enter his car while he pleasured himself in front of her
The girl escaped and police were able to arrest Thomas with the help of surveillance cameras and license plate readers
Charged with luring a child, Thomas was awaiting his arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court

Authorities in New York have arrested a man accused of trying to lure a 12-year-old girl into his car as she walked from school in Brooklyn early this week.

The unnamed minor victim was near the intersection of Essex Street and Dumont Avenue in the eastern part of the city at around 2:25 p.m. Monday when 36-year-old Queens resident Verlon Thomas approached her, the New York Daily News reported.

Thomas, who was sitting inside his vehicle during the encounter, allegedly offered the girl a free ride home. He then ordered the pre-teen to "get into [his] car" while he pleasured himself in front of her, according to police.

The girl ran off and later submitted a call to 911, which brought police to the scene.

Authorities were able to arrest Thomas Tuesday after they tracked his car with the help of surveillance cameras and license plate readers.

Thomas, who lives about a mile and a half away from the scene in Lindenwood, has been charged with luring a child. He was awaiting arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court.

A similar incident happened over a month ago in neighboring New Jersey when a man attempted to lure a 13-year-old girl into his car.

The teen was walking along Pitney Lane near Danielle Court in Jackson Township shortly before 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 4 when a man in an SUV backed up and talked to her.

"Are you cold? I can give you a ride. Get in my car," the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle asked the girl.

The victim, who was able to take several pictures of the SUV, ran to the nearest house along Danielle Court for help.

The vehicle then left the area on Pitney Lane toward East Veterans Highway.

Authorities are now on the lookout for the driver. He was described as an approximately 40-year-old Hispanic man with short brown hair and wore a dark-colored t-shirt.

The man's vehicle is believed to be a white GMC Yukon XL from 2007 to 2014 that appeared to have black-painted six-spoke wheels and was missing a rear window wiper.

The car appeared to have had a New Jersey registration of VLP61C, but the number came back invalid.