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The girl was coming down the escalator when she was met by a man she did not know around 7 p.m. on July 12, Abington Township police explained in a release.
The man identified himself as "Alex" and asked her to walk with him, "extending his arm, as if to escort her," according to investigators.
The teen told him she is underage and tried to walk away, but "Alex" "grabbed her arm, placed it in his arm, and restrained her as he led her across the mall," police said.
The young teen was eventually able to slip free and screamed as she ran away, authorities said. Bystanders who witnessed the escape "stepped in to prevent the male from approaching" her again, they added.
Investigators believe "Alex" was working "in concert" with a second suspect, whom he left the mall with immediately after the incident.
Police said they were spotted driving away in a "dark gray Dodge/Chrysler minivan or 'crossover' type vehicle, possibly a Dodge Journey."
"Alex" is described as a black man between 25 and 40 with short black braids. He was wearing a white shirt with a large letter “C” on the back, light-colored pants with a dark stripe, dark-colored shoes with a red marking on the inside toes, and light-colored laces.
He also wore a "unique leather bracelet" with a braided metal knot on his left wrist.
The second suspect is said to be a black man with "thick facial hair." He was wearing a dark blue t-shirt with blue jean shorts, black-and-white sneakers, a lanyard around his neck, and keys hanging from his front right pocket.
Anyone with information should call Abington Township Police at 267-536-1100.
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