Full Notification

The purpose of this letter is to make you aware of the recent reports of luring incidents in our area. In these purported incidents, young children were approached by operators of automobiles engaging them in conversation by asking questions and ultimately trying to lure them into their vehicle.

Due to the number of reports, which originated in communities including Hackensack, Maywood, Oradell and Fair Lawn, we want to provide you with basic safety precautions for the community environment. Police investigators believe that the same unknown actor may have been involved in three of the incidents. In those incidents, the suspect is described as a white male, 35-40 years of age, wearing a black knit winter hat and dark sunglasses with stubbly facial hair. The suspect was operating a light-colored Jeep Wrangler.

Given the extensive media coverage and the attention it has drawn from the general public, along with the approaching Halloween “Trick or Treat” activities, we offer these simple and basic safety tips for your awareness, especially for children. Children should be taught:

1. “CHECK FIRST” before going anywhere with anyone at any time for any reason. This includes going with relatives and people the child knows. They should always check first with the person who is caring for them at that time. If it is impossible to check with the caregiver, then the answer is “NO! You may not go.”

2. When outside, always walk with at least one other person. Groups of more than two are better.

3. When outside the house, do not wear clothing, backpacks or other articles with their name visible on it. Children are more likely to trust someone who calls them by name.

4. Stay more than an adult arm’s length away from any car that is occupied by a person trying to talk to them, so that they cannot be reached by the person inside the car.

5. If someone encourages him or her to get into a car, to help find a lost pet, or to leave with them for any reason, he/she should yell “NO” as loudly as possible and run to the closest adult whom they know and trust. Yelling "No," indicates the child has been prepared for the situation.

6. Run in the opposite direction from the one the car is facing. It is harder to drive in reverse than straight ahead.

7. Know their full name, address and if, there is one, the “best” phone number (including area code) to call in case of an emergency.

8. Older children should be taught to pay attention to the color and make of the vehicle and/or its license information (state and number), the physical characteristics of the person(s), and where he/she was when approached. If they have a cell phone, they should immediately call 911 to report any attempted luring.