April 01--Police are searching for a man who tried to lure two boys with candy Monday afternoon near a school in the South Austin neighborhood on the West Side.
The two 9-year-old boys came out of Howe Elementary School, at 720 N. Lorel Ave., between 3:15 and 3:30 p.m. As they walked south toward Huron Street, an unknown black man stepped out of a white van, according to a statement from the Chicago Police Department.
The man held out candy and said: "Come here. I got some candy for you."
The boys did not respond and continued walking. The van started following them, and the children ran and told family members about the incident, according to the statement.
The Monday luring attempt was the second in South Austin in March. Police previously said that a man tried to lure a 9-year-old girl and her 6-year-old sister near Hay Elementary Community Academy, 1018 N. Laramie Ave., around 4:45 p.m. on March 19.
The suspect in Monday's attempted luring is a black man between 30 and 40 years old. He is about 6 feet tall and weighs about 180 pounds. He was last seen wearing a black hat, dark pants and a black hooded sweatshirt underneath a dark jacket, according to police.
The man's van was white and had windows on the driver and passenger sides as well as on the rear doors. Another black male was also sitting in the van, authorities said.
Police urge residents to report any suspicious activity and to not talk to strangers or approach strange vehicles.
Anyone with information about the suspect or the incident should call Area North detectives at 312-744-8266.
