Man Tried To Lure Children With Fidget Spinners In Old Bridge: Police

OLD BRIDGE TOWNSHIP, NJ — An unidentified man may have attempted to lure two children at the QuickChek on Cliffwood Avenue in Laurence Harbor on Thursday, Old Bridge Township police announced.

The man, pictured here, attempted to purchase snacks for the two children, police said. He then tried to get them to go outside with him to his car by offering them hats and fidget spinners, police said. One of the children felt uncomfortable and notified the store staff. As the staff intervened, the suspect insisted the children were going with him.

A QuickChek employee who witnessed the entire thing was clearly shaken when Patch called the store today.

"It was very scary. The two boys came in here as they usually do, on their bikes to get some snacks," said the employee, who did not want to be named. "This man pulled up and walked in right behind them, so at first we all thought they were together. He bought the boys their snacks. But then something didn't feel right — he kept asking the boys their father's name. Then he told them he had baseball hats and stuff out in his car."

The boys are both younger than 12, she estimated, and they usually come into that store together on their bikes.

"They boys got scared and came up to me and another employee and said, 'This man is trying to get us to go to his car.' That's when I told my manager," she said. "The guy said he was just trying to help the kids and take them home to their parents. But my manager said, 'Oh no, these are my kids.' She just wanted to act like she was you know, their mom. We put the boys in a back room. And she called the police."

The suspect left the store after being told to do so by staff. He left the area in the pictured white Toyota, possibly a Corolla, and was gone by the time police got there, Old Bridge police said. By this point, the boys were very upset, the store employee said, and crying. They were safely picked up by their parents.

The suspect is described as a thin, white male in his late twenties or thirties. He was wearing a gold Yankees hat, sunglasses and a red Nike T-shirt. He was described as having brown scruff on his face as if he was unshaven.

If you know who this is or have an additional information, please contact Old Bridge Detective Michael Machen at (732) 721-5600 x3210 or email mmachen@oldbridge.com.

Photos released by Old Bridge police.