Nassau police are on the hunt for two men who attempted to abduct two 8-year-old girls who were playing in a backyard.

Police say the incident occurred around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday on Maple Place in Mineola.

As the family was inside the home beginning to cook dinner, the two girls – who are cousins – were playing in a gated backyard.

The family says two men, wearing yellow pants and blue shirts, walked up to the fence and called out to them.

Detective Lt. Richard Lebrun says the men “wanted to know their names and if they wanted to take a ride in their vehicle.”

He says the girls then backed away from the fence, ran and screamed.

Police say the men then opened the gate and ran after the girls.

The father to one of the girls and uncle to the other told News 12 that his niece was thrown to the ground by one of the men. He says she was able to kick and scream until the men fled.

Investigators say one of the men punched one of the girls in the face before they both took off in a dark-colored car. Police say the girl who was punched complained of some pain, but did not suffer any other injuries.

Detectives request anyone with information to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS.