Police are searching for a man who they say preyed on two young girls, violently robbing them at their building near Eastern Parkway and Ralph Avenue.
One of the victims, a 14-year-old girl, spoke with Eyewitness News exclusively with permission from her mother. She says she was walking her six-year-old sister home from school on Wednesday when the man came up behind them, demanding her gold necklace.
"The man grabbed me by the neck and then - my sister looked and she started getting scared. I didn't have time...I couldn't react. I only looked at my sister and she was screaming," said the 14-year-old.
Once the man followed those girls home from school, the victims say he followed right behind them through the front door of their building and was able to corner them in a very tight lobby.
Trapped between two doors - and overpowered by a grown man - police say the suspect began choking the six-year-old with one hand while ripping off her gold necklace and then snatching her big sister's gold necklace - both birthday presents from their mother.
Their mother, who was working at the time, was grateful her kids were not abducted.
"I'm very worried, because I got to call my daughter every time she goes out of school to make sure her safety is good," she says.
First responders transported the victims to Maimonides Medical Center in stable condition.
The NYPD says the suspect is about 5 feet 8 inches tall and is between 25-40 years old. They also say the man has dark hair in a ponytail and a light complexion.
During the incident, the suspect was seen wearing a white-shirt and carrying a Target shopping bag. Police say he later removed a grey sweatshirt from the bag and put it over his t-shirt.
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