Police say a man is wanted for attacking a mother in a Commack parking lot.

According to police, the man hit the woman across the head while she was putting her 2-year-old daughter in her car on Veterans Memorial Highway on Feb. 15 around 2:30 p.m.

Police say the suspect displayed what appeared to be a gun and ordered the 36-year-old woman in the backseat.

Police say the man got into the front seat and demanded the keys, but the woman said they were somewhere in the front.

The victim's cellphone rang, and the man took it from her. The suspect then again demanded her keys.

The woman pressed the panic button on the key fob and the man fled on foot eastbound through the parking lot. He took the woman's phone with him.

Police released surveillance video from a neighboring diner's parking lot. The video was taken after the alleged robbery took place. The man appears to hide behind three cars before walking over.

"The video was after the incident. It is the best source of video we have after an extensive canvas," says Detective Lt. Michael Crowley. "That is why we released it eventually."

Some residents say they are being more careful when they are shopping around town.

"I never go anywhere by myself because you never know what is going on in the world these days," says Jerelyn Damadeo, of Commack.

The man is described as Hispanic, 6 feet tall, and approximately 50 years old. He was wearing a green sweater and a mask over the bottom of his face.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers is offering a $2,000 cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Police are asking those with information to call 1-800-220-TIPS.