Police: Attempted Child Luring Reported on Hamilton Avenue in Princeton

princetonpolice_2After school on Monday, April 14 a man allegedly attempted to lure a child who was walking home from school to get into a vehicle in Princeton.

An 11-year-old boy was walking home from school and was on Hamilton Avenue near Chestnut Street when a man drove up in a grey, newer model four-door mini-van or small sports utility vehicle and attempted to lure him into the vehicle, the boy told police.

The man allegedly parked his gray mini-van or SUV along the south curb of Hamilton Ave. approximately 100 feet east of Chestnut Street with the engine running, and stood outside on the south sidewalk. As the 11-year-old walked east and approached, the suspect motioned with his hands to come toward him, opened the rear passenger door of the vehicle, and pointed at it for the victim to get in, according to the boy. The 11 year-old said ran away in the opposite direction, west on Hamilton Ave, where he coincidentally met his mother driving by and reported the incident to her. The suspect was not located in the area.

There was no verbal communication between the suspect and the victim, and the victim was uninjured. The suspect’s vehicle was empty and there was no one else present, according to the boy.

The incident happened around 3:10 p.m. Monday. The man is described as a Hispanic or black male, 35 – 40 years of age, 5’10 – 6’0, with a slim and lanky build. He was wearing gray sweat pants and a long sleeve shirt, possibly with yellow stripes.

Anyone with information contact Detective Sergeant Christopher Quaste (609) 921-2100 ext. 2120 or cquaste@princetonnj.gov.

On April 10,  a 15-year-old girl was walking to school in the area Franklin Avenue and Jefferson Road around 8:30 a.m. when a Hispanic male allegedly walked past her, turned around, and grabbed her buttocks. He then fled on foot in a westerly direction towards Witherspoon Street. There was no conversation between the two and the female was uninjured, the student reported.

The man was described as 5’5” – 5’7”, 30 – 40 years of age, with a thin build, black hair, brown eyes, and a wrinkled complexion. He was wearing a grey hoodie jacket, green puffy vest, and blue jeans. The officer investigating that case is Det. Benjamin Gering. He can be reached at (609) 921-2100 ext. 1840 or bgering@princetonnj.gov.

2 Comments

  1. What has princeton become? Lived here my whole life and used to walk home from JWMS myself. Would never allow my children to be out of my sight living in Princeton. I reside blocks from the incident and today as I was driving out and about at the dissmisal of school I didn’t see a single police officer on foot or patrolling. What is the mayor going to do? So glad Princeton is a “safe haven” wish it were for our children. Does anyone care about our kids?

  2. This is why my kids have the Holla Hers personal alarm Very Loud and gets other’s attention. I am so grateful no child was hurt.

Comments are closed.