CEDARHURST, Long Island (WABC) -- Nassau County police are searching for a trio wanted for attacking and attempting to steal a man's car in Cedarhurst.
The victim said he was walking on Bayview Avenue on Monday, March 11 around 7:05 p.m. when the three people approached him.
They demanded his car keys and said they would hurt him if he didn't hand them over.
When he refused, a woman in the group hit him in the back multiple times. He started screaming for help and the two men and a woman took off.
Fortunately, the man was not seriously injured in the attack.
This was apparently not the first time the three caused trouble in the neighborhood.
A couple that Eyewitness News spoke to said that they too were victimized.
One neighbor gave us video, allegedly showing the same three people opening doors and rummaging through their car just before 6 p.m. on Monday. They say nothing was stolen.
News spread quickly along Bayview Avenue about the two incidents.
"I have never heard of any incident like that happening around here. That's unfortunate," said Abraham Lichtman, who lives in the neighborhood.
One man who didn't want to be identified, says he also hasn't seen anything like this in the two decades he's lived on this street.
"The fact that they did it while it was still light outside," he said. "That's big. That's more than breaking into a car and taking the radio. This is a whole other level. It's violent crime, that's what it is. No fear of consequences."
Eyewitness News was told the suspects ran away on Monroe Street.
All three of the suspects are believed to be about 20 years old. The two men were wearing face masks at the time of the attempted robbery.
The woman was described as having a stocky build, about 5'2'', long black hair, and wearing red pants with a black jacket.
Detectives say they two men are about 5'6''.
Anyone with information is asked to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
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