MINNEAPOLIS - Police in Minneapolis are investigating two more incidents of strangers approaching kids in Minneapolis.
What seems like a rash of similar incidents started several weeks ago in south Minneapolis. A man in a van tried to lure a 12-year-old near Todd Park in Minneapolis. Then, a 14-year-old girl fought off a would-be abductor. Police released a sketch of that suspect. In north Minneapolis, a 16-year-old girl was walking home from school and was pulled into a stranger's car but escaped.
Now, there are two more cases of strangers approaching children. The latest incidents happened in northeast Minneapolis.
Police say this week, a car approached two young boys, 10 and 11, on Ulysses Street, each on different days. The incidents happened near an elementary school.
"Didn't attempt to lure," said inspector Bryan Schafer with the Minneapolis Police Department. "The threats were enough to make the kids feel uncomfortable and they ran home and notified their parents," says Inspector Bryan Schafer with the Minneapolis Police Department.
Police say the five cases are likely not connected, but so many reports of strangers approaching children have left parents shaken.
"These are the stories that keep parents up at night," says Alison Feigh, a Community Safety Specialist with the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center. In response to the alleged abduction attempts, Alison will meet with folks in south Minneapolis next week to teach parents how to talk to kids about safety.
"It's important that kids have enough information, but it's the grown ups' job to help keep our kids safe," she says.
The community meeting to help parents talk to their kids about safety is next Thursday, October 13th at 7:00 pm. It's at St. Joan of Arc Gym on 3rd Avenue South in Minneapolis.
Police continue to investigate all the incidents of strangers approaching children. No one has been arrested yet. And of course they urge people to call 911 if you see anything suspicious in your neighborhood.
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