Sixth attempted abduction reported in Champaign
CHAMPAIGN — Champaign police report another attempted abduction of a child.
According to a police report, a 13-year-old girl was at the Dobbins Downs playground at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when she was approached by a man riding a bicycle. The man invited the girl to come to his home to help him with groceries and promised to give her candy if she joined him.
When the girl began to yell out to get the attention of others, the man on the bicycle rode away from the area.
Police describe the man on the bicycle as a white male, about 39 years old. He is 6 feet, 4 inches tall, weighs about 150 pounds with a thin build and has curly, reddish blonde hair and blue eyes.
The girl said she previously saw the man in the area on several occasions riding in a red truck with another man.
Police spokeswoman Rene Dunn said investigators are comparing the latest incident with the previous reports of attempted abductions.
Persons with information are asked to call Champaign police Department at 351-4545 or remain anonymous by calling Champaign County Crimestoppers at 373-TIPS (8477). Information can also be sent by anonymous web tip by going to http://www.373tips.com or by sending an anonymous cell phone text to the following: TIP397 plus the information to CRIMES (274637).
The latest incident marks the sixth in Champaign and the seventh in the area since Sept. 20.
Police said a black man in his 30s or 40s, wearing an earring, was behind abduction attempts in the Dobbins Downs neighborhood on Sept. 20 and the 1500 block of West Kirby Avenue on Monday.
Police also believe a white man with blond or slicked-back hair in his 20s or 30s is responsible for attempted abductions at Kenwood Road and Sangamon Drive on Monday and at Doverbrook and Stonebridge drives on Tuesday.
Then a black man with a medium complexion and freckles and braided gray hair asked a girl near Fourth Street and Beardsley Avenue where her parents were and ordered her to get into his van.
Another abduction attempt was also reported in Paxton on Sept. 20.
I have to wonder why it took over 24 hours for this to be reported here. This happened on Wednesday at 7:30 but the story did not post until 8:10 on Wednesday. Why is there such a long delay with something so important. Parents need to be aware of each of these incidents as quickly as possible so that we can keep our children safe.
There's a delay because the police are suspicious about the legitimacy of these reports. There is real harm in hyping up a false threat. We do enough to conjure up irrational fear as it is. By all accounts, things are working fine; that is to say there aren't any kids willingly getting into vans with strangers. More likely is that situations are being misinterpreted or completely made up.
I'm sorry, but I have to start calling BS on some of these stories. I think it is quite probable that at least a couple of these reports have been fabricated by children or parents looking for attention. I believe there was already a reported abduction attempt in Dobbins Downs, so perhaps someone was jealous that a neighbor had been getting a lot of attention after reporting an abduction attempt? I do not deny that we need to be very vigilant about this, but it also important to scrutinize reports to make sure they are true.
Personally I have a hard time believing that a predator would try to lure a teenager with "candy." Also the man in this description does not seem to match any of the other reports so far. Just sayin...
I have wondered that as well. The scary thing is that any fake story is going to take away attention from the real ones. However, as far as the descriptions being different I am wondering if these are all true if there is a reason so many different people are trying to abduct a child all of a sudden. Are they all somehow connected and we just don't know how yet?
Wow. That is an interesting take.
I also am very surprised by the number of reports. It seems though that each of these incidents are very real given the circumstances.
If this is a case of mass hysteria I would be very intrigued and curious to know the details of how it evolved.
However, given what we know thus far, on the side of caution, I would urge folks to be vigilant and watchful.
I know that my daughter is scared, the school where we live has made them aware and very afraid! She's almost 11 and was walking 2 dogs and 1 of which WILL bite(to protect her), yet she was still scared! We live 35 miles from Champaign....however I know they could end up here since there were reports in Paxton. Find these creeps please and put these kids' minds at ease! It's scaring the crap out of them!
You are right on the money. Everything we've heard is a stereotyped version of an imagined child abduction attempt. Candy? Gimme a break...
The scary part is that the cops could easily pick someone up (who admits to being in the vicinity), groom a couple child witnesses to identify him, and convict an innocent person.
Another armchair detective. Good thing you posted that theory -- I'll bet the cops NEVER even considered the idea. You could be right, or you could be wrong and there could be a child pornography ring on the hunt. If you follow the news it isn't that far fetched. So why don't you keep your conspiracy theories to yourself until we're in the clear. You'll have plenty of time to say I told you so if this turns out to be a hoax, but if you're wrong, are you going to come out and admit that you downplayed it?
PEABODY, YOU COULD BE RIGHT ON THIS PORNOGRAPHY RING. FROM A CASE STUDY I READ FROM GERMANY, THEY USUALLY MOVE IN AND OUT OF AREAS TO SPREAD OUT THE COPS. THEN THEY LOOK FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE AREAS AND START IN FROM THAT AREA. IF THEY HAVE NO SECCESS, THEY USUALLY MOVE TO A DIFFERENT CITY OR STATE AND SET UP SHOP SOMEWHERES ELSE. JUST A STUDY I READ. STRANGE HOW THESE PEOPLE WORK. I ALSO READ THAT THEY WILL USUALLY MAKE FAKE JABS IN ONE AREA WHEN THE ACTUAL CRIMES ARE GOING ON IN ANOTHER TO THROW OFF THE COPS. JUST AGREEING WITH YA.
I'm really disappointed to see so many people dismissing the claims of these children, even accusing these kids of lying for attention. I sincerely hope that were this to happen to any of your own children, you wouldn't be so quick to disregard it.
Child predators rarely use brute force alone to abduct their victims. For one thing, physically snatching a child, who may be 10 feet away from the vehicle, and is likely to scream or put up a fight, is more likely to draw attention and delay getting out of the area when compared to getting a child to go willingly. Also, for some predators the crime is about control, and they get a kick out of the "luring" part of the crime, more so than the physical taking part. Do some research; you'll learn that most predators use tricks to get compliance - like preying on a child's natural instinct to be helpful by asking for help or directions, or preying on a child's curiosity by offering to show them something in the back of their van, or offering them something irresistible, like candy or the chance to pet a cute kitten. Anything to get them close enough that they can be forced into the vehicle if needed without taking a lot of time or drawing a lot of attention.
In any case, as a previous poster mentioned, no good is done by discrediting possible victims of this kind of thing, ESPECIALLY children.
My son was the first child in Champaign to have someone try to abduct him last week! Those of you who are suggesting this not be taken seriously have obviously never had to go through this! I am so proud of my son for doing the right thing and reporting it right away! As for the little girl who was near the park my son doesnt even know her so its not that she was jealous of him for getting the attention! My kids are scared to death to play outside now! I hope the cops can catch these creeps and put the kids in this area at ease! I really don't appreciate the way some of you are acting like we shouldn't take all these kids seriously! You never know how scary it is until it is one of your own! I wouldn't wish this on anyone and pray it doesnt happen to anymore kids!!
I am not saying we should not take these claims seriously or be vigilant. Most of the claims are probably true.
But even the police were quoted as saying that "there may be hypersensitivity" about this right now. Personally I find it very hard to believe that at least one of these reports was not a misunderstanding or was fabricated to get attention. I do not believe for a second that someone tried to lure a 13 year old with "candy." The comments on here about attempted child pornography rings are also a bit strange. I have never heard of children being abducted by strangers for the purpose of creating a child pornography ring, at least not in this country.
Anyway, all I am saying is that although we should take these reports seriously, it is also important to be vigilant for copycat reports by people who want attention.
Some of the posters on here would apparently like to buy into the hysteria and run around panicking like chickens with their heads cut off. I understand why, it makes for some good gossip after all.
Just remember that the vast majority of sex crimes against children are committed not by strangers but by people that the child knows and trusts. If your kids are scared to go outside, tell them to be vigilant but to still go out and enjoy themselves as they would normally do. Living your life in fear is a pretty miserable existence, especially when you start doing it when you're young.
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