The Sweet Home Police Department last week issued a warning to residents to watch for strangers in vans attempting to pick up children after receiving two reports in late July.
In the first, a woman reported that her two granddaughters were walking home from Hawthorne Elementary School shortly after noon Wednesday, July 21, when they were approached by two men in a red and black van with Washington plates. They asked the children if they wanted to see puppies inside their vehicle. The Sweet Home School District sent a letter to families regarding the incident.
In the second, undated incident, a mother reported that while discussing the letter with her daughter, the girl said she was offered a ride to Sweet Home Junior High School by a man in a beige or metallic tan van with a sliding door. During the ride, he reportedly made comments that made her uncomfortable, but she was able to leave at her destination. She recalled the van’s unkempt interior, with torn, leather-like seats. The driver was described as a heavyset man in his 50s or 60s, with a darker complexion; brown, graying hair; face moles and a 5 o’clock shadow. He was wearing a brown shirt and dark bottoms. He reportedly spoke English, with no accent.
“It is not clear if these two reports are connected,” Police Chief Jeff Lynn said. “At this point, we’re asking for the public’s help and ask that anyone with information contact us as quickly as possible.”
“While child abduction cases involving strangers are rare, less than 1% of abductions, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, they can and do occur. We recommend that parents teach their children to stay out of vehicles with strangers. Meanwhile, we’ll work on locating these vans and their occupants.”
Anyone with information should call (541) 367-5181.