Two Child Luring Incidents In Round Rock, Pflugerville Prompt Police To Urge Warnings

PFLUGERVILLE, TX — Pflugerville and Round Rock police are seeking help from the public in identifying a suspect in two attempted child-luring incidents occurring earlier this month.

The first incident is said to have occurred on Jan. 4 when an unknown adult male attempted to offer a rie an an 11-year-old girl who was walking home from school in the 17000 black Tortoise St. Police are unsure of the man's race/ethnicity, but said he is possibly Hispanic. He is around 50 to 60 years old of average build with black and gray hair and short facial hair, police said.

The suspect may have been wearing transition eyeglasses with a gray shirt, police said. According to the victim, the suspect spoke with a "Hispanic accent," police said. Police released sketches of each suspect as described by the victims:

The second incident occurred in Round Rock on Jan. 13, police said, stemming from a possible kidnapping of another juvenile. Police said the suspect in that case drove by the girl, passed her and then made a U-turn to re-approach her.

As the girl walked near the 900 block of McNeil Road, she told police the man grabbed her before she escaped his grasp and fled. The man also is described as a Hispanic male, but between 30-40 years of age of medium build with a "round stomach," medium complexion, short curly hair, wrinkles and a goatee. The victim told the suspect the man has tattoos on his right forearm, but police didn't specify further as to their design.

In issuing the plea for help from the public on Wednesday, police also urged parents to teach their children about the concept of stranger danger.

"Police encourage parents to talk with their children about what to do if a stranger approaches," police said. "Running away, going to a safe place and telling an adult, is the right thing to do. Children should walk with friends, or a group of friends when going to school or other destinations."

Police added: "Remind your children that if a stranger offers a ride somewhere to say no and run away. If someone approaches you on foot, get away as quickly as you can. It’s ok to make noise and draw attention to yourself. If someone is following you in a car, turn around and go the opposite direction or take a path a car cannot go. Parents should play it safe and report suspicious incidents to local police."

Anyone with information should to call Pflugerville Police Tip Line at 512-670-5700 or email CIDtips@pflugervilletx.gov.

Here's a video that can used as educational tool to inform children how to react to approaching strangers:

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