GRANITE CITY, IL (KTVI-FOX2now.com)—
Police patrols are being stepped up in a Metro East community after two elementary school kids are approached by a stranger trying to lure them to his car. Both of the incidents took place near Mitchell Elementary School in Mitchell, Illinois. Both of the children who were approached go to the school. The cases are the talk of Mitchell. "Everybody worries about it," said concerned mother Crystal Mayes.At the Friday night fish fry, many people were talking about the two children who were approached by a stranger in just the last couple of days. Moms like Marcella Starck are worried. She has a six year old boy, "You just think you're just never really safe. You never what could happen, will happen."
The first case happened Wednesday afternoon. Police say a 7-year-old boy was walking home after school on Lenox Avenue when a man in a truck pulled up. We're told the man asked the boy if he wanted a ride home. The boy said no and the man drove away.
Then, on Thursday evening, a 12-year-old girl was walking on Springfield Road near Fleming Street when a man in a truck stopped and asked if she wanted to see his sling shot or have his sling shot. The girl said no and again the man drove off.
Investigators don't know if it was the same man both times, but they're taking the cases seriously.
We asked Captain Brad Wells with the Madison County Sheriffs Department if he thinks he's dealing with a predator or just people playing bad jokes. Wells told us, "It could be either. We don't know. And that's obviously the reason we've increased patrols in that area."
Fortunately, neither child was hurt.
Parents in this small community are now watching their children even more closely.
"You don't want them to go anywhere. You want to be able to be in from them I guess," said Mayes.
The suspect in Thursday's case is described as a white man in his late 50s to early 60s. He has white balding hair with a light, short beard and was possibly wearing glasses. He was driving a black Chevrolet Avalanche with tinted windows and a trailer hitch.
Wednesday's suspect has a similar description. But the car was different, possibly a black four door Dodge Ram pick up.
If you have any information, call the Madison County Sheriffs Department tipline at 618-296-3000.
