Worcester Police Search For Couple After Attempted Abduction At Bus Stop
WORCESTER (CBS) - Worcester police are searching for a man and woman they say tried to lure an 11-year old girl into their pickup truck at a Ward Street bus stop. The girl's mother told police that around 2:45 p.m. Thursday, the girl stepped off the bus and was walking home when the man told her he wanted to give her a ride as a favor to her mother.
"This individual talking to the girl mentioned the mother's name, but it wasn't the girl's mother," said Worcester police Sgt. Kerry Hazelhurst. "She was smart and knew better and did not get into the vehicle."
While the conversation was taking place police say an unidentified woman told the girl not to get in. The encounter has rattled nerves in the Worcester neighborhood full of children. Resident Donna Tebo said she saw an unfamiliar vehicle on the street that day but "didn't put two and two together."
"It was parked at the end of my street," Tebo says describing it as a beat-up truck that was dark in color.
Melanie Rodriguez says it's a wake up call as her five-year-old rides the same bus. "This is a whole different thing, stalking little kids and telling them to come in a car. That's frightening to me," said Rodriguez.
The 11-year-old says she saw the truck in the area at least twice before, and police are hoping neighbors will be vigilant. "We're trying to get the identities of the two people. We want to talk to them in case it's a case of mistaken identity or something with more criminal intent,' said Sgt. Hazelhurst.
Parents admit to fearing the worst, even as police step up patrols. "Now I'm really worried about these children," said Tebo.
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