Student approached by unknown man while walking home from school in Lynbrook
Student reported that an unknown man repeatedly called out to her from a vehicle near Merrick Road and Lynbrook Avenue.
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A Lynbrook student was approached by a suspicious man while walking home from school Wednesday, according to Lynbrook police.
Police say the student was walking home when an unknown man repeatedly called out to her and asked her to come over to his vehicle.
The student did not approach the vehicle.
The incident occurred in the area of Merrick Road and Lynbrook Avenue at approximately 3:10 p.m. Wednesday.
"She was noticing that a car might be following her," says Brian Paladino, Chief of the Lynbrook Police Department. The car got to a spot that was close to the sidewalk, rolled down the windows of the car and asked her, said hi there, and basically if she'd get in the car. She said no and he asked her one more time. The student did a great job of walking away and not entertaining it."
Police released a photo of the vehicle they are attempting to identify.
"The car is very distinguishable. It's like a baby blue, light blue Mercedes-Benzes four door sedan," says Paladino.
According to police, the student was asked multiple times to come over to the vehicle but did not approach it. She immediately contacted her parents to report what had happened.
The suspect is described as a white man between 50 and 70 years old with gray or white hair.
Lynbrook police are encouraging parents to talk with their children about safety precautions.
Police say children should never approach an unfamiliar vehicle, should remain alert, and should report suspicious encounters immediately.
"I want children to be able to walk to school," says Paladino. "Parents should just make their children aware that instances like this can happen."
“Lynbrook Public Schools made parents aware of the stranger incident on Thursday, stating police are investigating. The district provided helpful resources for families out of an abundance of caution," said Paul Lynch, Lynbrook Public Schools Superintendent in a statement.
