Exclusive video shows man trying to steal car with 2 children inside in Brentwood
The incident happened on Suffolk Avenue, where authorities say a father briefly left his vehicle running while he went inside Bougatfa Zero smoke shop.
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Police say a man tried to steal a car with two young children inside on Tuesday outside a smoke shop in Brentwood. The chaotic encounter was caught on video.
The incident happened on Suffolk Avenue, where authorities say a father briefly left his vehicle running while he went inside Bougatfa Zero smoke shop.
According to police, Mustafa Attia, of Ronkonkoma, got into the driver’s seat and attempted to drive away as the man’s 5- and 6-year-old children sat in the back seat.
Exclusive video obtained by News 12 shows a man walking up to a blue Volkswagen and climbing into the vehicle moments before the attempted theft.
Police say the children’s father noticed what was happening and ran outside, trying to pull Attia from the car. Investigators say Attia refused to get out.
The owner of the smoke shop, Omar Shahbain, said he rushed outside to help after hearing calls for help.
Shahbain said the children were crying in the back seat as the struggle unfolded.
“I hear people say, ‘Help, help, help,’ so I went outside. I held the brake for the car. I stopped the car,” Shahbain said. “I was trying to push the guy out of the car. He didn’t want to leave. He was pressing the gas so hard, he wanted to drive through.”
Shahbain said he pulled the emergency brake while the suspect pressed the accelerator, helping prevent the vehicle from moving. He also helped get the children safely out of the car.
Police say responding officers removed Attia from the vehicle and took him into custody at the scene.
Attia was arraigned Thursday and is charged with attempted grand larceny, endangering the welfare of a child and criminal possession of a controlled substance.
