“I Got Some Candy For You,” Man Says in Luring Kids: Police

Chicago police say two child luring incidents in recent weeks have similar details

A man holding candy in his hand tried to lure two young boys into his van outside a school Monday afternoon in the West Side Austin neighborhood, a Chicago Police Department communtiy alert indicated.

The 9-year-old boys left Howe Elementary School, at 720 N. Lorel Ave., between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. and were walking south toward Huron when a white van reportedly pulled up. 

"Come here, I got some candy for you," the man said as he got out of his van, candy in hand, police said.

The boys didn’t respond and ultimately ran to family members after the van began following them.

Police described the person as a black man between 30 and 40 years old who stood about 6 feet tall and weighed about 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing sunglasses, a black hat, a black hooded sweatshirt, a dark jacket and dark pants, police said.

He was driving a white van with windows on the driver’s side, passenger’s side, and on the rear doors, police said. The boys also told authorities there was a male passenger seated in the van.

The incident is similar to one that occurred nearby on March 19 when two girls reported they were offered candy by a man standing next to a white van. The 9-year-old girl and her 6-year-old sister returned to Hay Community Academy, at 1018 N. Laramie Ave., where they'd just left an after school program and reported the incident to school personnel.

In that incident, the chilldren described the person only as a black man wearing a black hat, a black hooded sweatshirt and black pants. They said he was tall and was wearing sunglasses, police said. 

Anyone with information about the incidents should contact detectives at 312-744-8266.

Copyright CHIST - SunTimes
Contact Us