Montclair Police Blotter: Creeps Prey On Kids

Although it may be walking weather, the streets might not be so safe for children to walk alone. There were three suspicious activity accounts, where two kids were almost abducted and one nearly robbed.

On March 2, a 7-year-old girl was waiting for the school bus on the corner of Monroe Place and Willowdale Avenue with her friends and a parent. As they were waiting, they heard two males standing across the street saying they were going to "snatch that little girl." When the girl and parent heard the two men talking loudly, the parent grabbed the girls and ran up the street to meet the school bus halfway. The men didn't pursue them. One male was described to be wearing a wool cap and gray sweat suit. There was no description of the second man. Police searched the area but there was no one matching the description in the bus stop area. Anyone with contact regarding this case should contact Detective Ray Gulbin at 973-509-4739.

A 13-year-old boy was walking north on Valley Road in the area of Brunswick Road to his friend's house on March 4, when two men driving in a car attempted to rob him. The boy reports that a small black car stopped and pointed what is believed to be an "air gun" at him and said, "give me your money." When the boy said he didn't have any money, the men said "sike" and drove off north on Valley. The boy wasn't able to give any further details about the car or the men driving it.

A 12-year-old girl was stopped by a car on Valley Road and Oakwood Avenue while walking to her friend's house located on Fernwood Avenue. The girl said a male was driving a large white four-door car and shouted at her, "Get in!" She ran to her friend's house and immediately called her dad. She was unable to provide any further details about the man driving or the car.

In other crime...

Car vandalism didn't only happen in Bloomfield this week. On March 9, a resident reported their 1985 Cadillac Sedan Deville had the windshield completely broken out by a brick. Police found a brick in the backseat of the car, which was parked on Frink Street. No other damage was reported and nothing was missing in the car.

A Valley Road apartment was also broken into on March 9. Police found the locked front door was damaged and most likely kicked in. Inside the house, desk drawers were out of place and several papers were disheveled. Missing from the apartment was three sets of US Mint coins, two valued at $800 and the other $400, and a Dell laptop computer valued at $1,600.