Woman attacked 9-year-old boy to steal his bike, Novato police say

(KRON) — Novato residents helped to detain a woman who allegedly attacked a 9-year-old boy to steal his bicycle on Wednesday, according to the Novato Police Department.

Police were dispatched around 1 p.m. to an apartment complex on Ignacio Boulevard on the report of a woman hitting a young boy and attempting to steal his bicycle. Community members in the area stepped in to stop the attack before officers arrived, authorities said.

Officers detained Kadija Sultan, 29, of Brentwood, when they got to the scene. Sultan did not know the boy, police said.

The 9-year-old child received minor injuries in the attack and was evaluated at the scene by Novato Fire Protection District medics. The boy’s parent planned to bring him to the hospital for treatment, according to police.

 Sultan was arrested and booked into the Marin County Jail for child abuse and robbery.

“While we do not typically encourage community members to become physically involved with in-progress crimes for safety reasons, however we thank and commend our neighbors who intervened to protect this young child,” Novato PD said.