Cpl. Carl Finnerty, of the South Williamsport Police Department, said today that police received a report about an attempted child abduction, which took place on Gerard Avenue just after 3 p.m. Thursday afternoon.
A 12-year-old male was walking home from school along Percy Street, when he passed a white van parked on Gerard Avenue. As he walked past, the van pulled up to him.
It contained two white males. The driver was wearing a white hooded sweat shirt with the hood pulled up and a black mask that covered his eyes. The passenger was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up and a black face mask which covered his nose and mouth.
As the van pulled up, the passenger got out and approached the child, who ran away. The child made it home unharmed and reported the incident to his parents, who in turn alerted the police and officials at the South Williamsport Area School District.
The vehicle is described as a white van which may have had a large, round decal on one side of it that has been scraped or pulled off.
"It may be possible to see the glue residue left behind from the decal," Finnerty explained.
At this time, police do not know the make, license plate number or registration of the vehicle.
"We want the public to be aware that this has happened and to keep vigilant," Finnerty said.
"This young man seems to be truthful in his claims. He is not the type of kid who would make something up for attention," Finnerty added.
This is the second report of an attempted child abduction by a white male in a white van this month.
Anyone with information that may help this investigation is encouraged to call the police at 329-4060.
