Crime & Safety

Algonquin Police Warn of Safety After Attempted Abduction on East Side

Police say there will be added patrols in the area during the beginning and end of the school day.

Algonquin police are encouraging parents to be alert and to talk to their children about the danger of interacting with strangers after Tuesday’s attempted abduction on Algonquin’s East Side.

This is the second time this month two Hispanic males in a white van reportedly approached an  student near a bus stop, police said. The other incident took place Jan. 3 in Carpentersville, when an 11-year-old boy, who is also a student at Algonquin Middle School, was waiting at his bus stop.

“Our officers have been made aware of the situation and the other investigation that is going on in Carpentersville,” said Algonquin Deputy Chief Steve Kuzynowski. He said there would be added patrols in the area during the beginning and end of the school day.

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In both incidents, the children were approached by two men near bus stops and were told to get inside the van. However, Kuzynowski said the witnesses’ description of the vans in each situation did not match. In the Carpentersville incident, the witness described the van as being conversion-style, while in Algonquin, the witness said it was more like a work van with no side windows.

Considering the circumstances, Kuzynowski said he couldn’t say how accurate the information is.

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“It’s a lot to absorb, even for an adult,” Kuzynowski said.

Police are encouraging parents to be on the lookout. The driver was described as a Hispanic male with brown hair and a thin mustache, was wearing a purple sweatshirt. The passenger was described as a Hispanic male with brown hair and a goatee, wearing a purple sweatshirt.

Anyone with any information regarding these types of incidents is asked to contact the  at 1-847-658-4531.


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