Police investigate attempt in Wantagh to lure boy with candy
Nassau County detectives are investigating an attempted child luring reported in Wantagh, police said.
On Sunday, Oct. 8, a woman allegedly approached a 7-year-old boy on his front lawn and attempted to lure him with candy, police said. The child refused and ran inside the house to notify his mother, according to the release.
Police said the woman may have left the area with a man spotted in a newer gray Buick Enclave parked on Jerusalem Avenue near Whitehall Lane. The vehicle fled the area heading west on Jerusalem Avenue, police said.
The woman was described as 40-45 years old with a heavy build and brown hair. The man was described only as being in his mid-40s.
Nassau police on Monday issued a news release saying that an investigation by detectives found a separate report of a woman luring two 12-year-old girls Saturday in Wantagh was unfounded.
Child abduction is exceptionally rare, according to the FBI.
About 0.1% of records of missing persons entered in 2022 was categorized as abducted by stranger, according to a compilation of statistics from the National Crime Information Center’s Missing Person and Unidentified Person Files for 2022. That figure includes children and adults.
Anyone with information regarding the Oct. 8 incident is asked to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 800-244-8477 or to call 911, police said.
With Dandan Zou
Grant Parpan covers Suffolk County courts and federal courts for Newsday. A Long Island native, he joined Newsday in 2022.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
Sarra Sounds Off, Ep. 15: LI's top basketball players On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Newsday's Gregg Sarra and Matt Lindsay take a look top boys and girls basketball players on Long Island.
