Parents On Edge After Attempted Luring Cases In Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Parents in Queens are on edge after police said a man tried to lure children into his car.
Police are looking for the driver of a black Nissan Altima with heavily tinted windows who allegedly targeted two kids within hours of each other in Far Rockaway on Saturday.
Detectives said he spotted an 11-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl while they were walking alone near along Mott Avenue near Sunnyside Street.
The man apparently pulled over and yelled out the window to "get in the car," police said. But both children refused and ran off for help.
"This is a very, very bold person and we worry about what his intentions were," said Jason Shtundel with the Rockaway Citizens Safety Patrol.
Shtundel said his group provided NYPD detectives with video of the suspect's car.
The incident has left many parents on high alert.
"Really shocking," parent Stacey Lyttle told CBS2's Ilana Gold. "You just can't allow them to walk alone anymore."
"I never let her walk alone anyway. She's 12 years old and I still don't let her walk by herself just because of reasons like that," said parent Shamika Santiago.
"I did see the video and it's very scary," said parent Krystal Goodwin.
Child safety experts say kids should travel in groups or pairs and avoid wearing headphones they say can be distracting. They should also never ride with strangers and if approached, should shout "help" and "this is not my parent."
Police do not have a detailed description of the suspect, but say they're checking footage from nearby surveillance cameras to get a better look at the driver and license plate.
"The community is on the lookout for this vehicle and we are urging anyone who has any information who this individual is to come forward," said Sholem Klein with the Rockaway Citizens Safety Patrol. "The police would like to talk to that individual."