Middle School Child Evades Attempted Abduction
It should have been just like any other Tuesday morning, but for one Farmingdale middle schooler, their world came all too close to getting flipped upside down.
Last week, on March 28 at about 7:30 in the morning, a group of six Hispanic men pulled up in a vehicle to the corner of Lewis and Phillip Drive, where the student was waiting at the bus stop. The group of men then allegedly opened the car door and attempted to bring the student into the vehicle. The student’s mother screamed and the men fled the scene. The parent then reported the incident to both the Nassau County Police Department and the school’s administration.
A letter that Farmingdale School District subsequently sent home to parents described the car as being a late model black Hyundai Elantra with no hub caps, and described the driver of the vehicle as being bald and wearing an orange shirt.
“Farmingdale continues to be a safe place to live and work,” reads the school district letter. “However, it is always a good idea to periodically review safety concerns with your children.”
The letter then continues to describe the importance of parents discussing with their children safety precautions and situational awareness to keep themselves safe at all times.
“We ask that you have a conversation with your children about not talking to strangers and insist that they bring any concerns they might have to an adult in school or at home as soon as possible,” states the letter.
The statement then goes on to list multiple safety tips to review with children, like the importance of saying “no” to people and escaping the person immediately when they feel scared or uncomfortable, never talking to or accepting gifts from strangers, never accepting a ride from someone or approaching an unknown vehicle and a reminder that adults should ask other adults, not children, for directions.
To contact the Farmingdale School District, visit www.farmingdaleschools.org.
What do you think of this story? Do you think there enough safety measures in place for schools? Let me know your thoughts at aeichler@antonmediagroup.com.
