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Parents On Alert After 2 Montclair Luring Incidents

MONTCLAIR, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A warning has been issued for parents in Montclair, New Jersey, where police said at two separate times, a man tried luring children into a car.

As CBS2's Raegan Medgie reported, one of the children got a good look at the suspect.

New Jersey State Police were able to create a sketch thanks to a very observant 9-year-old boy. The boy said a man – with white and gray hair and a white mustache and beard – tried luring him into a blue or black sedan this past Friday.

"For something like this to hit this close to home; this close in proximity, is really scary," said Kevin Bedford of Upper Montclair.

The boy told police the man honked his horn and then told the 9-year-old to follow him. It happened near Norwood Avenue and Marion Road, which does not sit well with Bedford at all.

"That's kind of scary, because I live on Norwood," Bedford said.

Four days later, a 16-year-old girl told police a similar story – only it happened about a mile away near Claremont Avenue and Park Street.

The man told the teen to get into his car. She did not.

The only description she could give police is that he spoke with an accent.

The story alarmed Richard Douek, a father of two young boys, who lives around the corner.

"I feel terrible because it's like, you know, this person's out there, and you know if they didn't get this kid, are they going to try again?" Douek said.

"This is a safe town, I think it has a good reputation, so it's really scary to think that's happening here," said Amanda Ceravolo of Clifton.

Montclair police said this is a good opportunity to talk with children about stranger danger.

In this situation, police are advising children if a car pulls up, they are not to get near it. Instead, they are to go tell and adult and make sure that adult contacts the police immediately.

A similar conversation is already happening at Park Street Academy, near the most recent attempted luring.

"I'm sending an email out this morning with the sketch. I'm posting the sketch at school," said Lisa Raphael of Park Street Academy.

Police are not sure if the two luring attempts are related. Police also said they have gotten several tips now that a sketch and details have been released.

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