Police Alert Parents to Luring Incident

Police warned parents and children Thursday to be on the lookout for a suspicious female driver they say tried to lure a young girl into a minivan earlier this week.  

An 11-year-old female walking to school on Crescent Avenue in Allendale was approached by a light-colored Honda minivan earlier this week, according to a memo from the Waldwick Police Department citing an Allendale Police report.

A white female with light brown hair with blond streaks driving the minivan told the 11-year-old girl "you look cold, why don't you get in and I will drive you to school," according to the memo making its way around local communities.

"When the child declined the ride, the driver repeated several times that it was OK for her to get in the car and that she knew the girl's family," the Waldwick Police Department wrote.

The 11 year old ignored the request and kept walking to school. The girl's family reported the incident to Allendale Police the following day.

"At this time the incident appears to be isolated," police said. "Parents are asked to remind their children of how to respond to if a stranger approaches and to always report suspicious activities to a trusted adult, school staff or police department personnel."

Chief Benjamin Fox said there have not been any similar incidents reported in the township recently, but advised parents to talk to their children about "stranger danger."

"That includes things like never getting in a car with someone that they don't know. Even if that person says their Mom or Dad sent them to pick them up ... don't go with them," Fox said.

He also said that kids put in a dangerous situation need to be taught to respond appropriately.

"Children also need to be given permission that in a situation where they are forcibly being pulled into a vehicle, that they have the OK to do anything at all to protect themselves," Fox said. "Scream, hit, bite — whatever it takes to get away."

The also confirmed that there hadn't been any reports of similar incidents in the borough in recent months.

Franklin Lakes Police Chief Joseph Seltenrich said that children should be aware of their surroundings and travel in groups when possible.

"If approached by strangers [children should] walk away, run if they have to," Seltenrich said.

Earlier this year Ridgewood parents were alerted to a luring incident in nearby Old Tappan who was reportedly .

Old Tappan police reported the incident in which a man described as a tan Caucasian male or dark-skinned Hispanic male, in his late 30s or 40s with sunglasses, attempted to lure two eight-year-old girls into his car. The incident occurred at T. Baldwin Demarest Elementary School in May, according to police. 

"It is important to emphasize that no similar incidents have been reported in Ridgewood at this time," Fishbein said in his letter. "However, as the safety of children is always the top priority of Ridgewood Public School officials, I am bringing this matter to your attention."

In a separate incident last year, 26-year-old Shahan Achian was . 

The Upper Saddle River resident .

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