A man driving a black sedan allegedly followed a girl for several blocks on Chicago's South Side on Tuesday morning, offering her money to come closer to his car before the girl managed to reach security officers and get help. Chicago police issued an alert warning families about the attempted child luring, which happened between 9:30 and 10 a.m. in the 6300 to 6500 blocks of South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
According to Fox 32 Chicago, the girl was approached by the man in the black sedan on South Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, and he trailed her for several blocks while offering her money to approach the vehicle. The suspect ultimately drove north on King Drive, and the girl was able to reach security officers for help.
Suspect Description Released by Police
Police described the suspect as a Black man between 30 and 35 years old, with a dark complexion and dreadlocked hair. He is believed to stand between 5 feet 9 inches and 5 feet 11 inches tall and weigh between 150 and 160 pounds, per the same account. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a black sweatshirt and black pants.
Chicago police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Area One detectives at 312-747-8380. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through CPDTIP.com using reference number JK-431584.
Part of a Wave of Recent Luring Alerts
The South Side incident is the latest in a string of attempted child luring alerts issued by Chicago police in recent months. On September 10, police said a man tried to persuade a 15-year-old girl to get into his car while she waited for a bus near the 6400 block of West Irving Park Road on the Northwest Side, and the girl captured video and audio of the encounter, according to CWB Chicago.
Other recent cases described children escaping by their own quick thinking or the help of bystanders. In Park West, an unknown man allegedly tried to lure a child near the 2600 block of North Clark Street just before 10 a.m., but witnesses intervened and the offender fled, as reported by CBS News Chicago. In Portage Park, the outlet also reported that a 13-year-old girl approached by a man with a gray or black dog went into a nearby building and alerted park officials.
In West Woodlawn, police said a driver got out of his car, hugged a girl, and tried to lure her into the vehicle while offering to pay for sex, according to ABC7 Chicago; the girl reached a safe passage worker and the suspect drove off eastbound on 66th Street. And in Englewood, ABC7 reported that a man in a silver Chevrolet Malibu offered to smoke with a girl in his car, with the girl escaping by walking to a friend's nearby house while the man circled the block several times.
No arrests have been announced in connection with Tuesday's South Side incident, and police have not said whether it is linked to any of the other recent cases. Anyone with information is urged to come forward through the Area One detectives line or the anonymous tip system.
