New Jersey State Police issued the alert late Tuesday night for Dulce Maria Alavez of Bridgeton City in Cumberland County. They say she was abducted by a man who was last seen leading the girl from a playground at Bridgeton City Park, near Cohanzick Zoo, to a red van around 4:20 p.m. Monday. The van has a sliding side door and tinted windows.
Dulce's mother, Noema Perez, told CBS3 she was playing with her 3-year-old brother in the park while she was in her car with an 8-year-old relative. When she returned to the kids, Dulce was gone.
"We told him, 'Where's your sister?' And he just pointed behind those buildings over there," she said. "We thought she was hiding, that she was just playing around and we went looking for her."
Police searched the park to no avail.
Dulce is approximately 3 feet tall, 60 to 70 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair. She was last seen wearing a yellow shirt with a koala bear on it, black and white pants, and white shoes.
Police describe the man as Hispanic who is between 5 feet, 6 inches and 5 feet, 8 inches tall. He has acne but no facial hair. He was last seen wearing orange sneakers, red pants and a black shirt.
"I just want to find her and I want to find her that she’s OK, nothing bad has happened to her," Perez added.
Police ask anyone with information to call the Missing Persons Unit at 609-882-2000, ext. 2857, the Bridgeton Police Department at 856-451-0033, or 911.
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