Police: Elementary Students Approached By Men In Van After Leaving School In N.J.
ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – Police in New Jersey are investigating after two elementary school students said they were approached by strange men in a van.
The students told police they were approached around 4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday while walking home from Gilbert Avenue School in Elmwood Park.
They said the men stated, "You're beautiful. Do you want me to drop you off?"
The students both ran off unharmed.
"We want to air on the side of caution, and I'd rather overkill this and err on the side of caution and dial it back if we need to than not have enough of a response. I want the children and their parents to feel safe - faculty, I want everybody to feel safe," Elmwood Park Police Chief Michael Foligno told CBS2's Meg Baker.
The suspects were described as two dark-skinned males in a dark-colored minivan with rear tinted windows, possibly a Chevrolet.
"This is a really good neighborhood and nothing ever has happened like that in this area before, so to hear this is kind of alarming," resident Mirtha Roman said.
"My first reaction was shock and very scared and upset. This morning, I've actually been crying a few times over it, because God forbid they came up to my child," said parent Stephanie Raimo. "I think of the parents of those children who somebody did attempt to lure into a van and take them and God forbid do who knows what with these poor children, and I feel for those parents, as a mom."
Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 201-796-0700, option #7.
