Third Attempted Child Abduction in January

Tuesday afternoon marked the third attempted child abduction this month in the Algonquin area. The previous two occurred Jan. 3 and Jan. 17.

About 3:43 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31, a 10-year-old boy was walking home from a friend's house in the Algonquin Lakes subdivision when he was approached by a Hispanic man between 30 and 35 years old, according to a news release from Algonquin police. The man asked the boy to get inside his vehicle, which is described as a white, cargo-style "E" series Ford van.

The  this month occurred Jan. 3 in Carpentersville, when an 11-year-old boy was waiting at his bus stop near the Silverstone subdivision. The , when a 13-year-old girl was walking to her bus stop on Teton Parkway near Glacier Parkway in Algonquin.

Of the two stranger approach reports in Algonquin, one of the vehicles is described as a white, Chevrolet Astro Van without markings or signs, and the other is described as a white, Ford “E” Series van with no markings or signs.

The Jan. 17 incident had two Hispanic men between 20 and 30 years of age and the Jan. 31 report had one Hispanic male between 30 and 35 years of age. There was no active attempt to grab or force a child into a vehicle in either incident.

The community and schools in the area are on a heightened level of security and the police department has increased patrols throughout the area. The investigation is ongoing, and the police department encourages the community to be alert.

In both incidents, the children responded appropriately — they either said “No” and ran home, or just ran home to tell a parent.  and are asking parents to reaffirm that a child should never get in any vehicle with an adult who is not their parent, unless it is prearranged as part of that
child’s safety plan.

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