Police: Winnetka Boy Approached By Strangers in Vehicle

Two men approached and offered a ride to a nine-year-old Winnetka boy while he was walking home Monday afternoon, Winnetka police said.

The boy ran away from the vehicle, which pulled up to the curb near Westmoor Road and Rosewood Avenue around 3:45 p.m, according to an alert email sent to local schools. A man sitting in the passenger seat opened the door as the car pulled up and asked the boy if he needed a ride, the alert says. The mid-sized van was light blue with tinted rear windows and had no sliding door on the passenger side. Another man was driving the car.

Winnetka police sent out a crime prevention alert to schools earlier this week. At this time, the occurrence is classified as a "suspicious incident" because no crime has been identified.

"We have followed up on it, there's no new information we have come across at this time," Sgt. Marc Hornstein said.

Winnetka police remind residents to report any suspicious incidents or activity in the community to police.

earlier this week.

The full text of the alert is below:

On 03/21/2011 the Winnetka Police Department received a report of a suspicious incident that occurred at approximately 3:45 PM. A 9 year old boy reported that while walking home from the area of Westmoor Rd. and Rosewood Ave. he encountered a male subject driving a vehicle. The boy reported the vehicle pulled along side the curb and a second male subject in the front passenger seat opened
the front passenger door. The male passenger asked the boy if he needed a ride. The boy was alarmed and subsequently ran away from the vehicle. The vehicle was described as: Light blue, mid-sized panel van, no sliding door on the passenger side, dark rear windows. The driver was described as: Male, Caucasian, approximately 20
years of age with straight blonde hair. The passenger was described as: Male, Caucasian, approximately 20 years of age, dark hair in a buzz cut. The Winnetka Police Department is continuing to investigate this incident.

Report any suspicious activity/persons to the Winnetka Police Department immediately by calling 911. For delayed incidents or calls for service, please call the non-emergency line at 847-501-6034.