Cops investigate attempted child luring at Alcott School

Alcott Elementary School | Google

Detectives are looking into a child luring incident reported Wednesday afternoon at Alcott College Prep East Elementary, 2625 North Orchard.

Students told a faculty member that a man stopped his van near the school’s playground and athletic field around 1 p.m. and asked a group of female students on recess to “come inside the Uber,” according to an email sent to the Alcott community by principal Elias Estrada later in the afternoon.

Police were told that the man spoke with a heavy accent, was dark-skinned, and may be of Indian descent. His vehicle, which may have been an older model, black Chrysler Pacifica, was last seen heading west on Drummond and then north on Orchard, according to the students.

Estrada said students immediately notified a staff member of the incident. No children were injured or successfully lured into the vehicle, according to police.

Detectives were reviewing camera footage in the area and looking for records of similar incidents at other schools in preparation for the issuance of a community alert, Estrada said.

“I also wanted to commend all the students and staff involved in this situation as they acted appropriately and safely,” Estrada told parents. “A final thank you to the Chicago Police Department for always responding to any incident at school quickly and sincerely.”
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CWBChicago was created in 2013 by five residents of Wrigleyville and Boystown who had grown disheartened with inaccurate information that was being provided at local Community Policing (CAPS) meetings. Our coverage area has expanded since then to cover Lincoln Park, River North, The Loop, Uptown, and other North Side Areas. But our mission remains unchanged: To provide original public safety reporting with better context and greater detail than mainstream media outlets.