Crime & Safety

Attempted Abduction At Walmart A Hoax: Manville Police

An initial report claimed a man approached a woman before grabbing her and trying to pull her into a car.

MANVILLE, NJ — A viral social media post claiming a woman was almost abducted in the Walmart parking lot in Manville was found to be a hoax, according to authorities.

On Thursday, June 1, the Manville Police Department received a suspicious incident complaint at the Walmart at 100 North Main St. in Manville.

Initial reports indicated that an unknown person approached and initiated a conversation with the adult victim in the parking lot. At one point the actor grabbed the victim’s arm, said Manville Police Lt. John Crater.

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The social media post also claimed that a man said "Hey beautiful, want a ride?" to a woman before grabbing her and trying to pull her into a car. The post then claimed the woman pushed the man back and as she got into her car, he blocked her in with his car but then fled when he saw the car.

"An investigation revealed that the initial reports were embellished, taken out context, and in fact did not happen," said Crater.

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No charges have been filed against any of the involved parties at this time.

"There is no threat to the community. As always, please be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police department immediately," said Crater.

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