Police Warn About Child Safety After White-Van Incidents

The Western Springs Police Department has issued an "informational safety alert" reminding parents to emphasize "stranger safety with their kids after two incidents in neighboring towns involving suspicious persons in white vans approaching minors.

On Sunday, Sep. 11, a 4-year-old boy with gummy bears at the corner of 52nd Street and 7th Avenue in La Grange. Taught to avoid strangers, the boy fled and told his mother, who described the incident to police.

Then, on Sunday, Sep. 18, a 14-year-old boy told Indian Head Park police that he was approached the previous day (Saturday) at La Grange Highlands Middle School by a 60- to 70-year-old tall white man, bald and clean-shaven, driving a white van. The boy added that a similar incident had occurred a month earlier.

No similar incident has occurred in Western Springs, said Deputy Chief of Police Brian Budds.

"Western Springs Police has not received any calls or complaints that are related or similar in nature to those described," wrote Budds in an e-mail to press. "We are sending this out just to advise parents of school children who attend Western Springs schools as an FYI."

The Western Springs department did on Thursday, September 8, concerning a white van circling the 3800 block of Woodland Avenue.

However, the Department said the similarity could be a coincidence. “With the information we have here, we have no reason to believe there’s any connection," said Budds, adding that the Department gets suspicious-van calls every week.

The Department released the following "safety tips to discuss with your children:"

• Children should always obtain parents' permission before going anywhere.
• Children should never go near someone in a car or truck and should run the other way towards other people.
• Cute animals and candy are just two [of the] tricks used by strangers in order to get near a child.
• Children should always obtain parents' permission before accepting money or a gift.
• A child's name should not be printed on anything visible to strangers.
• Children should be taught to tell parents about places or people that make them feel unsafe.
• Children should be instructed to walk with a group. There is safety in numbers.

The department is encouraging residents to be "extra observant and to report all suspicious vehicles, subjects or activity... by dialing 9-1-1 immediately."

Questions can be directed to the Department at (708)-246-8540.