SAN RAFAEL — A man tried to kidnap a 6-year-old girl who was walking in San Rafael with her mother, police said Thursday.

The incident occurred at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 4, but the woman, shaken and afraid after the attack, did report it until Thursday, said San Rafael police Sgt. Jim Correa.

The woman told police the man approached while she was walking with her daughter and 4-year-old son on Mission Avenue near Union Street, near San Rafael High School.

The man started to speak with them, but the mother walked away with the children. Then the man ran toward them and tried to take the girl away, Correa said.

As the woman and the attacker struggled over the child, the woman screamed and a bystander rushed to help. The man fled and was last seen running on Mission Avenue.

The mother decided to disclose the incident Thursday after talking to staff at the girl's school.

The man was described as Hispanic, 23 to 25 years old and about 5 feet 10 inches tall. He had a heavy build and a large belly and wore a white shirt with black lettering.

The man also had a large birth mark on the right side of his nose and a tattoo of a rose on his right upper arm.

Anyone with information about the incident can call police directly at 415-485-3000 or place anonymous tips with Bay Area Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS, which is a multilingual call center. Crime Stoppers callers can be eligible for cash rewards of up to $2,000.

Correa

said the attack does not appear to be related to an incident on Aug. 15, when a 12-year-old girl said two men forced her into a car in Gerstle Park and drove away with her. The girl said she was able to get out of the car in the Bret Harte neighborhood and walk home.