Barrington school officials issued an alert after a child reported that a man asked them where their father was and offered them a piece of gum in North Barrington on Tuesday.
“A child stated that a male (possibly in his 50’s, with a darker complexion and brown hair), stopped his vehicle (possibly an older model sedan with rust spots) and began talking to the child,” Barrington District 220 Director of Communications Samantha Ptashkln said in an email sent to parents on Thursday.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that they took a police report in the 400 block of Brook Forest Lane in North Barrington on Wednesday, a day after the alleged incident occurred.
“There were no attempts to actually abduct the child who made the report. The child reported a male, possibly in his 50s with a darker complexion and brown hair, stopped his vehicle, possibly an older brown Cadillac sedan with rust spots,” Lake County Sheriff Spokesman Sgt. Christopher Covelli said.
The man reportedly asked the child where their father was and if the child wanted a piece of gum, Covelli said, adding that the child declined and went inside.
There have been no similar incidents reported in the area, according to the school district and police.
Sheriff’s detectives are investigating and attempting to retrieve surveillance video from area homes. Extra patrols are being conducted by sheriff’s deputies out of ‘an abundance of caution,’ Covelli said.
“At this time, based on the information we have, this is believed to be an isolated incident. We ask parents to be cognizant of any suspicious vehicles and to speak to their children about stranger danger,” Covelli said.
Anyone who has information about the incident or a similar one is asked to call the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 847-377-4000.