Manalapan luring report investigated
BY KATHY BARATTA
Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - Police are investigating an alleged attempted luring incident that reportedly occurred May 1.

According to Manalapan police Lt. Lloyd Drucker, police were contacted by a resident who was concerned about an alleged incident involving her 10-year old daughter.

Drucker said the parent told police that according to her daughter, at about 4 p.m. May 1 an unknown male pulled his car alongside the girl as she was riding her scooter on Madison Court.

Madison Court is in a residential development off Craig Road, about a half-mile west of Route 9.

The man allegedly told the girl to get into his car, at which time she responded to his remark by running away. Police said they do not know which direction the individual was headed when he drove away from the neighborhood.

Drucker said an hour passed before police were contacted. He said the area was checked but the individual was not located.

According to Manalapan police Capt. Lou Moreto, police in the Middlesex County borough of Metuchen, which is about 40 minutes from Manalapan, reported two similar incidents in that community during April.

Moreto said the descriptions Manalapan and Metuchen police have so far are not very detailed. He said that means police officers in both departments are going to have to "put a lot more legwork into this one in order to determine if they are related."

In a written description prepared by Drucker, the individual who is alleged to have been involved in the Manalapan incident is described as being a clean-shaven white male about 50 years old, with white hair and wearing a white jacket. The vehicle is described as being a four-door sedan.

The incident was initially investigated by Patrolman Seth Kreizman. Anyone with information about this incident may call the Manalapan Police Department Detective Bureau at (732) 446-4300.

Although the May 1 incident in Manalapan did not involve any youngsters from Marlboro, David Abbott, Marlboro's superintendent of schools, sent a letter home on May 4 to parents of pupils in that community to alert them to the report.

Abbott wrote, "Although this incident occurred in the area of Craig Road, since we are a neighboring district it is important that we share the information with Marlboro parents, teachers and residents so that all of us are aware and vigilant. Residents are asked to be mindful of any unfamiliar vehicles, people or suspicious activity.

"If you should observe any such activity, please immediately contact the Marlboro Police Department at (732) 536-0100. Residents are cautioned not to confront any such person(s) but instead, try to obtain a detailed description of any suspicious person (i.e., physical description, clothing worn, etc.) and/or vehicle (i.e., make, model and license plate) that may be observed. ... We encourage you to speak with your children in reference to what actions should be taken if confronted by an unfamiliar person, so that together, we can help keep our children safe," he wrote.

The incident in Manalapan was not the only situation involving children within the past two weeks.

In Howell, a notice was sent home to parents on April 30 from two elementary schools.

Pupils at the Newbury and Taunton schools were sent home with a notice alerting parents to a report police had received from a parent in the Candlewood section of Howell who told police he had seen a man in a car allegedly taking pictures of children in the neighborhood on April 29.

According to the notice, the car being driven by the unknown individual was described as a green 2002 Honda with a Pennsylvania license plate. Police were unable to confirm that the driver of the vehicle was actually taking pictures of children.

Parents were asked to be alert and to contact police if the vehicle was seen again in the area. The Howell Police Department may be reached at (732) 938-4111.