Elizabethtown Area School District is warning parents about a child luring that happened Thursday Morning. In a letter sent home to parents, the school urges them to talk to their kids about safety when walking to school.
A male middle school student reported that a man driving a red Dodge Ram van approached him on his way to school. The man offered the child candy, and he refused. The child told officials the van continued to follow him, so he turned around and went home. He then tried to walk to school using another route and the van reappeared so the child returned home again.
This is a copy of the letter from the school district that was sent home to parents:
The safety of students and staff is our number one priority. As such, the Elizabethtown Area School District is sharing important information about an incident that occurred this morning in Elizabethtown Borough. A parent of a current middle school student reported to the Elizabethtown Borough Police Department that a white male, between the ages of 30-40 and driving a red Dodge RAM van, approached her son as he walked to school and offered him candy. The student said no and continued on his way. The van followed the child who, to his great credit, immediately left the area and returned home. When the child attempted to get to school a second time using a different route, the red Dodge RAM van reappeared. The student wisely returned home again. The initial incident happened on E. Willow Street walking toward Mount Joy Street.
In light of the above situation, the district would like to take this opportunity to remind parents and students to report suspicious activity to the police. Additionally, please review the following safety precautions with your children:
A male middle school student reported that a man driving a red Dodge Ram van approached him on his way to school. The man offered the child candy, and he refused. The child told officials the van continued to follow him, so he turned around and went home. He then tried to walk to school using another route and the van reappeared so the child returned home again.
This is a copy of the letter from the school district that was sent home to parents:
The safety of students and staff is our number one priority. As such, the Elizabethtown Area School District is sharing important information about an incident that occurred this morning in Elizabethtown Borough. A parent of a current middle school student reported to the Elizabethtown Borough Police Department that a white male, between the ages of 30-40 and driving a red Dodge RAM van, approached her son as he walked to school and offered him candy. The student said no and continued on his way. The van followed the child who, to his great credit, immediately left the area and returned home. When the child attempted to get to school a second time using a different route, the red Dodge RAM van reappeared. The student wisely returned home again. The initial incident happened on E. Willow Street walking toward Mount Joy Street.
In light of the above situation, the district would like to take this opportunity to remind parents and students to report suspicious activity to the police. Additionally, please review the following safety precautions with your children:
- Whenever feasible, children should walk in groups or pairs rather than alone when walking to and from school.
- If someone follows them on foot, children should get away as quickly as they can by going to someone's house they know or run toward other people.
- If a car pulls beside a child, the child should turn around and go in the opposite direction if they do not know the driver.
- Children should avoid shortcuts through empty parks, fields, or alleys.
- Children should be taught to recognize suspicious behavior and remember a description of the person or vehicle to give to the police.
- Children and parents should communicate about any after school plans.