Reader-submitted: Hey Scoop, I just wanted to let you know that today, Saturday July 29th, while at my mother's on Cypress Avenue, I saw a suspicious car driving slowly through the neighborhood.
Many children, including my own daughter were outside playing, and the car seemed to slow down right as it approached them. It idled a bit then slowly kept pace with the children.
Noting this behavior, I got the make and model of the car and instructed my mother to take my daughter inside.
The car again slowly proceeded down the street and would stop and pull over to observe the children walking.
I got in my car and proceeded around the block to get the car's license plate. By the time I got around the block, the car had reached the top of side street and was just sitting at the stop sign. He had his blinker on but didn't turn in the whole time I caught up to him and passed him.
I got a good look at the man, and his license plate. Once I got back home, I called the police and gave them the make and model and plate of the car.
The police sent someone out but didn't find the car.
The officers called me back and asked to speak with me for more info. Apparently this man had stopped a young boy on the other side of the street and offered him candy. The young boy ran home and told his mother who I assume also reported this to police. My description and the young boy's matched. The police have the information from the car and are going to follow up.
Please make sure families are aware that this is happening, and encourage them if they see something to say something.
(TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to [email protected])
Thank You for letting us know. We appreciate you doing what you did. Please parents, stay outside with your precious jewels.
Can u give car make/model or description? Maybe someone will have a lead for the cops?
Not sure if it’s so smart to publisize this it just gives him a chance to move on
Why don’t you publish some more info so we can all benefit??…just saying
What is the make modal and plate? There were incidents on Shabbos near Presidential.
What is the color, make and model of the car?
What is the make model and plate? There were incidents on Shabbos near Presidential.
Can u please tell us the make and model of the car??
The incidents near Presidential should be reported to the Police asap. I believe it makes a difference how many people report similar incidents…
Thanks so much for taking th3 extra step and following the car. You may have saved many children from harm. God bless you.
Thank you!
Similar incident in Hearthstone this Shabbos.
Did anyone call the police on Shabbos????? This is in the category of Pikuach Nefesh !!!!!
TLS: can you please repost the letter from the Rabbonim that you should call the police ?
Thanks
I`ve seen (Friday around 8PM) a dark colored Pontiac (older model) just idling on Carol st. (looked like a white scrawny male 40-50 yrs old) . He only pulled away when i walked right up to it.
Saw the same as caol also around 8pm I think there was at least one other passenger in the car as well
I saw a car in spruce st. On shabbos Nissan beige colored black male. Driving real slow and stopping .
Before everyone starts panicking, keep in mind that no crime was committed, as far as we know.
A car idling or driving slowly does not automatically mean someone is up to no good.
It’s always a good idea to talk to your kids about personal safety – and keep an eye on them while they play outside – but hysteria and panic (and suspecting every guy sitting in his car) helps no one.
Sure, but that doesn’t mean we need wait for something to happen either. It’s called suspicious activity. It’s someone who likely doesn’t belong – slowly cruising around and stopping precisely where children are playing and then following them. Better to be smart and proactive and report it. Hardly call that panic and hysteria.
You all MUST report these and similar incidents to the POLICE ASAP!!!!
You never know how your little bit of info can help match up to lots of information the Police have.
It helps! Please do it for yourselves and all your neighbors!
thank you for doing what you did to keep all our kids safe
from reading the comments on this thread, it seems that there is more than one potential perpetrator out there. i dont think a 7 year-old, let alone a 3-yr-old, will be able to outrun such a guy if it came down to it. i know the feeling of having so much to do inside the house, but lets please try to stay outside with our young children so there is no post by the scoop to daven for a child who went missing
WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR TO TAKE SERIOUS ACTION??? DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FUR SOMETHING C”V TO HAPPEN BEFORE WE REACT??? BY THEN IT IS TOO LATE.
WHAT IS BEING DONE NOW ABOUT THIS???
The only one we wait for is MOSHIACH, the rest we REPORT immediately. The olam should never wait in reporting suspicious activity no matter what, even if it is Chalomuss , the cops don’t bite you could tell them your chalomuss also , its gevaldig if you mamash report the inyan when it’s hot .
To Will not edit:
What is being done now? In today’s world it is everyone’s responsibility to setup cameras outside their home. Collectively as a community we can be of major help in protecting our children. If many people put up cameras we create a security net to help guard our children. Cameras can be put up for less than $500 today.
I have personally observed very young children walking on roads by themselves (without proper adult supervision). It is not wise to let your very young children do that. Especially if the road has no sidewalks. Don’t let them wander around and make sure if they walk they are not walking by themselves. Also, please teach them to properly cross a road and stop before crossing. I have seen numerous times a child run across the street without looking. This should be thought at home and in schools.
PLEASE stop allowing young children to walk alone!!! I saw two boys walking alone and they couldn’t have been older than 5 years old! Please think before allowing them out alone.
why was my comment not posted about speaking to your children about appropriate behavior around strangers such as yelling at passing cars?