Man helped woman change tire, then tried to abduct her, South Elgin police say

SOUTH ELGIN, Ill. (WLS) -- A man who offered to help a woman change a flat tire tried to abduct her in west suburban South Elgin, police said.

Police responded to a report of an attempted kidnapping at the Home Depot in the 400-block of Randall Road just after 12:25 a.m. Thursday.

"She was quite upset and distraught," said Sgt. Randy Endean, South Elgin Police Dept.

An 18-year-old woman told officers she was heading south on Randall when she realized one of her tires had gone flat. She said that's when a man drove up and said he could help her. She pulled into the Home Depot parking lot and waited as he changed her tire, police said. When he finished, police said he tried to pull her out of her vehicle.

"He approached and began to attack her at that time and she did a wonderful thing, that many people should do - fight," Sgt. Endean said.

Later the same day, the victim helped an artist at the South Elgin Police Dept. make this sketch of the suspect. Police say the victim is strong-willed, and that helped her.

"Be your own hero. Defend yourself," Sgt. Endean said. "If you're under attack from an unknown assailant your best bet is to fight and defend yourself."

Police said the man took off, heading south on Randall.

Investigators describe the suspect as a Hispanic or Middle Eastern man in his late 30s. He was wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt and gray pants or shorts. He was driving a gray or green vehicle, possibly a Saturn.

The police department is eager to solve this crime.

"An incident such as this, in my history, has not occurred in South Elgin in the past," Sgt. Endean said.

Anyone with information regarding this incident should call South Elgin police.