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Latest attempted abduction matches earlier one in Willis
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By Melissa Vargas
For the second time in a week, a Willis-area child was the target of an apparent attempted abduction, law enforcement officials said.
The description of the woman who attempted the abduction, according to a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office press release, matches one given to police Aug. 28 of a Hispanic woman, accompanied by a Hispanic man, who tried to lure a 7-year-old boy into their car before his mother intervened.
The vehicle descriptions in both incidents also match, according to the press release.
The latest incident occurred about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday when a 5-year-old child was approached as he stepped off a Willis Independent School District bus near the intersection of Ridgecrest Drive and Lake Conroe Hills Drive, east of Lake Conroe, Precinct 1 Constable’s Lt. Leslee Cade said.
The child’s mother reported the incident to police Wednesday after seeing a note sent home to parents about the earlier attempt on Aug. 28.
Deputies met with the child’s mother in the Lake Conroe Hills subdivision, who reported that her son was approached by a Hispanic woman driving a faded red Toyota 4-Runner. The woman asked her son to get inside the vehicle, officials said.
When the boy’s mother began walking toward her son the vehicle drove off, officials said.
Law enforcement officials have identified suspects, Cade said.
The first reported incident happened about 5 p.m. Aug. 28 near a WISD bus stop in the 3700 block of Hickory Lane in the Oak Meadows subdivision in Willis. Sandra Thomason told investigators she watched from a distance as her 7-year-old son exited the school bus and was approached by a Hispanic man and woman, police said. Thomason said the couple appeared to be in their 30s and got out of a faded, red 1990s-model Toyota 4-Runner.
The couple seemed oddly unconcerned about the incident, she said.
“They didn’t even act like it was a big deal,” Thomason said. “They just drove away slowly.”
Another, unrelated incident occurred a week ago around 3:45 p.m. Aug. 29 in Walden, when a 13-year-old girl riding her bicycle was followed by three Hispanic males in a white Dodge work van. Those men were questioned, officials said, but not charged with any crime.
SAFETY TIPS
For Parents:
• Be sure to go over the rules with your children about whose homes they can visit when you’re not there and discuss the boundaries of where they can and can’t go in the neighborhood.
• Always listen to your children and keep the lines of communication open. Teach your children to get of out of dangerous or uncomfortable situations right away, and practice role-playing and basic safety skills with them.
• Teach your children in whose car they may ride. Children should be cautioned never to approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless accompanied by a parent or trusted adult.
• Make sure children know their names, address, telephone numbers and how to use the telephone.
• Choose babysitters with care. Obtain references from family, friends and neighbors.
For Children:
• Always check first with your parents or the person in charge before you go anywhere or do anything.
• Always take a friend when you play or go somewhere.
• Don’t be tricked by adults who offer you special treats or gifts or ask you for help.
• Don’t be afraid to say no and get away from any situation that makes you feel uncomfortable or confused. Trust your feelings.
• Don’t get into a car or go near a car with someone in it unless you are with your parents or a trusted adult.
• Never take a ride from someone without checking first with your parents.
• Never go into a public restroom by yourself.
• Never go alone to the mall, movies, video arcades or parks.
• Stay safe when you’re home alone by keeping the door locked. Do not open the door for or talk to anyone who stops by unless the person is a trusted family friend or relative.
Source: Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
The description of the woman who attempted the abduction, according to a Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office press release, matches one given to police Aug. 28 of a Hispanic woman, accompanied by a Hispanic man, who tried to lure a 7-year-old boy into their car before his mother intervened.
The vehicle descriptions in both incidents also match, according to the press release.
The latest incident occurred about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday when a 5-year-old child was approached as he stepped off a Willis Independent School District bus near the intersection of Ridgecrest Drive and Lake Conroe Hills Drive, east of Lake Conroe, Precinct 1 Constable’s Lt. Leslee Cade said.
The child’s mother reported the incident to police Wednesday after seeing a note sent home to parents about the earlier attempt on Aug. 28.
Deputies met with the child’s mother in the Lake Conroe Hills subdivision, who reported that her son was approached by a Hispanic woman driving a faded red Toyota 4-Runner. The woman asked her son to get inside the vehicle, officials said.
When the boy’s mother began walking toward her son the vehicle drove off, officials said.
Law enforcement officials have identified suspects, Cade said.
The first reported incident happened about 5 p.m. Aug. 28 near a WISD bus stop in the 3700 block of Hickory Lane in the Oak Meadows subdivision in Willis. Sandra Thomason told investigators she watched from a distance as her 7-year-old son exited the school bus and was approached by a Hispanic man and woman, police said. Thomason said the couple appeared to be in their 30s and got out of a faded, red 1990s-model Toyota 4-Runner.
The couple seemed oddly unconcerned about the incident, she said.
“They didn’t even act like it was a big deal,” Thomason said. “They just drove away slowly.”
Another, unrelated incident occurred a week ago around 3:45 p.m. Aug. 29 in Walden, when a 13-year-old girl riding her bicycle was followed by three Hispanic males in a white Dodge work van. Those men were questioned, officials said, but not charged with any crime.
SAFETY TIPS
For Parents:
• Be sure to go over the rules with your children about whose homes they can visit when you’re not there and discuss the boundaries of where they can and can’t go in the neighborhood.
• Always listen to your children and keep the lines of communication open. Teach your children to get of out of dangerous or uncomfortable situations right away, and practice role-playing and basic safety skills with them.
• Teach your children in whose car they may ride. Children should be cautioned never to approach any vehicle, occupied or not, unless accompanied by a parent or trusted adult.
• Make sure children know their names, address, telephone numbers and how to use the telephone.
• Choose babysitters with care. Obtain references from family, friends and neighbors.
For Children:
• Always check first with your parents or the person in charge before you go anywhere or do anything.
• Always take a friend when you play or go somewhere.
• Don’t be tricked by adults who offer you special treats or gifts or ask you for help.
• Don’t be afraid to say no and get away from any situation that makes you feel uncomfortable or confused. Trust your feelings.
• Don’t get into a car or go near a car with someone in it unless you are with your parents or a trusted adult.
• Never take a ride from someone without checking first with your parents.
• Never go into a public restroom by yourself.
• Never go alone to the mall, movies, video arcades or parks.
• Stay safe when you’re home alone by keeping the door locked. Do not open the door for or talk to anyone who stops by unless the person is a trusted family friend or relative.
Source: Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
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Reader Comments
mrs. do gooder wrote on Sep 5, 2008 5:51 AM:
" Parents, keep up the good work being vigilant supervising your children. God bless. "
hdad wrote on Sep 5, 2008 11:06 AM:
" According to the story, mothers were present watching the kids when they got off the bus in both incidents. "
randi0282 wrote on Sep 5, 2008 1:11 PM:
" i just heard from a friend of mine that there was another attempted abduction at a Willis school earlier this morning. Has anyone heard about this? "
tblount73 wrote on Sep 5, 2008 3:04 PM:
" I also heard about an attempt early this morning as well and wonder if it is true. I babysit a child and sit outside in my car with her and watch everyones kids that are outside waiting and there are 2 other adults watching as well. Is there a pattern yet as to who they are approching so far it seems like boys but what race or hair color does it seem? "
drivermom wrote on Sep 5, 2008 6:55 PM:
" Everyone needs to be on the alert for these scum bags. They may change vehicles. If anyone sees anything out of the ordinary they need to contact the police as soon as possible. If you can follow them at a safe distance and give the police a play by play move while on the phone with 911. The police will have a better chance of catching them and getting them off the streets. Our the children ever safe? "
WePraiseHim wrote on Sep 5, 2008 1:05 AM: