No Child Abductions In Galloway Despite Social Media Posts: Cops

GALLOWAY, NJ — Galloway Township Police insist that there have been recent no child abductions or attempts to lure children away in the area despite reports on social media that several had taken place in recent days, police said Monday.

Police officials said in a Facebook post Monday that they are working to clarify misinformation that has been spread on social media about reports of the abductions. Police officials said that while there have been reports of suspicious incidents, nothing beyond that has taken place.

“There have been no child abductions that have occurred in Galloway Township,” police wrote on Monday. “There have been two recently reported incidents involving suspicious vehicles. Neither was reported as a child abduction or attempted child abduction/luring incident.”

Police said that over the weekend, a police report was made about a suspicious incident in which two children were walking in their neighborhood when they passed a vehicle they had never seen before, police said. A man was standing outside the vehicle, police said, and asked the girls, “How are you doing?” as they walked by, police said Monday. He then drove away.

Police described the man as being Caucasian or Hispanic, in his 40’s or older, very tan, with a long white beard. His vehicle was described as a dark blue SUV, possibly a Jeep or a Hyundai, police said.

In another incident, reported nine days earlier, a small child was on the lawn in front of her home, when a vehicle went by, stopped, and backed up. The male driver was seen to be on a cell phone, possibly describing the child, police said. The male driver saw the child’s mother and drove away. The vehicle in this incident is described as a blue Toyota Sienna minivan. The driver is described as a white male, in his 40s, with dark hair, having light-colored facial hair, a goatee beard, police said.

“At this time there has been no connection established between the two incidents and it should be noted the description of the male in each incident is different,” police said in a statement Monday. “In these two reported incidents, there was no attempt made to lure or to abduct a child. The Galloway Township Police Department is investigating and will continue to do so. Parents are encouraged to be vigilant with their children and to report any and all suspicious activity.”