HANSON (CBS) – Hanson Police have issued a warning about a suspicious man who approached children Saturday morning and asked them to get inside his van.
The incident happened around 9:50 am on Whitman Street. Police said a 911 caller reported his son and a friend, who are under 12, were approached by a man who asked if they wanted any toys.
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“The children stated no, and then the man told one of the kids to ‘just get in’ to his van,” said police.
The kids ran off and told a parent.
Hanson Police are investigating after a man in a white van, pictured, approached children in the area of Whitman Street early Saturday. (Photo courtesy Hanson Police Department)
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Police found video of a white work van in the area from neighbor Chris Stappen, who is a father of three girls .. The van may be a Ford E-Series E-250 cargo van with roof racks and running boards. According to the kids, there was rust on the van and some kind of writing on the back
“I do not like it. There’s a marine corp flag flying here for a reason. I’m always telling my kids, all the time, ‘Do not talk to strangers. Do not go near cars, ‘”said Stappen. “They were riding their bikes and scooters. Just kids being kids. ”
The van passed by the children once and then stopped on a second pass for a minute before the man talked to the kids, police said. It then drove off toward East Washington Street.
“It’s scary,” said neighbor Lauri Thomas. “It’s really scary that that’s happening right across the street.”
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Anyone with information about the van or the driver should call police at 781-293-4625.