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WEST JORDAN — Police have beefed up their patrols around Jordan Hills Elementary School following a report of a possible abduction attempt.
Friday afternoon, a 10-year-old girl, her 5-year-old brother, and a 7-year-old girl were walking home from school, 8892 S. 4800 West. The trio told police that in the area of 8700 South and 4500 West, a gold colored car with two people inside pulled up next to them and told them to get in, said West Jordan Police Sgt. Dan Roberts.
No one got out of the car or tried to grab the children, he said.
Instead, the children ran home and told one of their mothers what had happened. The mother called police.
"I think we've got two sick people that are looking to attack our kids," said mother Heidi Molinaro, whose son was approached at the end of December. "It's been nerve-wracking to say the least ... and not wanting to let our kids go out and play anymore."
On Monday, the school heard about what had happened and sent an email out to parents asking them to remind their children about stranger danger and what to do if they're approached by someone they don't know, Roberts said.
I think we've got two sick people that are looking to attack our kids. It's been nerve- wracking to say the least ... and not wanting to let our kids go out and play anymore.
–mother Heidi Molinaro
"Report anything that looks out of the ordinary or anything that looks strange to you," said Jordan School District Spokeswoman Sandy Riesgraf.
Officers have been making extra patrols in that area since Friday and will continue to do so the rest of the week, Roberts said.
"These things happen on occasion, not regularly. But often enough we take them seriously and look into them," he said.
There was a similar incident reported in December, Roberts said. That one involved a white truck. In November, there was a report of a man following some children. Police located the man who told them he was only out exercising and apologized for walking the same way as the students.
Anyone with information on Friday's incident, or any other similar incident, can call police at 801-840-4000.
