Just days after Nassau Police reported that a van home from school, Patch has learned that a van tried to lure a 6-year-old East Meadow boy last September.
According to Audrey, who lives on Andrew Avenue, her twin 6-year-olds were playing on their front lawn when a vehicle stopped near her residence.
"I was sitting outside with my kids at about 2 p.m. on a Saturday," Audrey said. "They were playing before we were leaving to go someplace."
Audrey said that a vehicle, described to be a plain white utility van with sliding doors on the side and a window and door on the back, stopped about 200 feet from her home. The van then slowly approached her residence and the window was rolled down, and the driver said hello to Audrey's son.
"The moment I saw that, I screamed for [him] to come here now," she said. "Both he and my daughter ran towards me, and the van tore off right away."
"I thought it was so weird," Audrey added. "I would never roll down my window and say hello to a kid."
Police said Audrey described the suspect as "a white male between 30-40 years old with salt and pepper hair and wearing glasses."
Det. Vincent Garcia confirmed the East Meadow incident and added that Nassau County Police are investigating three other reports in which minors were approached by a similar white van in the local area.
On Jan. 2, a 15-year-old girl in Bellmore at the intersection of Peapond Avenue and Gerald Court, and she described the driver to be a white man.
The second disturbance took place on Jan. 4, when two teenage girls, 15 and 13, spotted a van following them in North Merrick at the intersection of Sycamore Avenue and Losee Court. The teens said two men, described to be black and wearing ski caps, were in the van that had an orange New York license plate.
On Jan. 6, a third incident was reported after a 12-year-old male was walking home from Newbridge Road School in Bellmore and he noticed a white van was .
The fourth incident was on Jan. 10 at the intersection of Rhode Avenue and William Street in Merrick. A 13-year-old girl described the two suspects as Hispanic males with black hair.
"It’s unknown if any of these are related," Garcia said. "It’s under investigation right now."
Garcia said that the van police are looking for is an older model van with orange New York plates and possibly tinted windows. The two suspects are described to be black or Hispanic, he said.
If anyone has information regarding this van or the suspects involved, call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
"If anyone is approached by this van, call 911 immediately," Garcia added.
Editor's Note: To protect the identity and security of the family involved, Patch is not including their last name or exact address.
