Police officers in Long Hill Township are looking into a report of a man trying to lure two teen girls into a vehicle.
According to authorities, the suspect approached the teenage girls on Passaic Avenue in the Stirling section of Long Hill. The suspect allegedly drove a Chrysler minivan past the girls as they walked on Somerset Street. He then parked the vehicle on Passaic Avenue and waited for a short period of time before allegedly backing up and following the girls down the street.
The mother of one of the girls told police that the suspect attempted to “get lunch or ice cream or see a movie” with the young girls. When neither of the girls responded to the suspect, he turned east onto Essex Street and left the neighborhood. At that time, the girls ran to a nearby home.
Police released a description of the suspect: he is a white, elderly man with thinning white hair.
Sometime after the incident, Long Hill Township police investigated the area; however, they were unable to locate either the vehicle or the suspect.
If the suspect is eventually caught and convicted, he could face significant penalties. N.J.S.A. 2C:13-6 classifies luring as a second degree criminal offense. This means that anyone convicted of luring may be sentenced to between five and 10 years in NJ State Prison.
Anyone with information about the suspect has been asked to call police at 908-647-1800.
For additional information, read the NJ.com article entitled “Police Investigating Report of a Man in a Minivan Approaching Teen Girls.”