Police searching for two men for in abduction attempt of 10-year-old in Russell Gardens

Robert Pelaez
Police are searching for two men that allegedly attempted to abduct a 10-year-old boy in Russell Gardens Thursday morning. (Photo courtesy of Google Maps)

Police are searching for two men who attempted to lure a 10-year-old boy into a van in Russell Gardens on Thursday.

Officials said the 10-year-old was walking to his school bus stop when two men approached him in a grayish-white van on the corner of South Middle Neck Road and Melbourne Street around 8:30 a.m. Thursday morning. 

A man, who police described as light-skinned with an average build, between 5’5”-5’7” with dark hair and a short, black winter jacket, got out of the passenger door and attempted to lure the boy into the van.

The boy, whose name and address were not disclosed by police, ran back home and alerted his mother of the situation, according to officials.  The man got back into the van and drove off in an unknown direction, officials said.

Det. Lt. Richard LeBrun, a commanding officer for the county’s Public Information Bureau encouraged Russell Gardens residents to check any surveillance footage from Ring devices or other video monitors for any suspicious activity.

“At this point, what we are trying to do is get the word out to all homeowners, all the residents in the area to please check your Ring doorbells, check your surveillance systems,” LeBrun said during a press briefing Friday afternoon. “Make sure if you see something suspicious, call us.”

Police did not have a description of the male driver of the van and did not provide an age description for the man who got out of the passenger door. 

Efforts to reach a representative from the county’s police department with an update on the alleged incident were unavailing.

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