Crime & Safety

Sykesville Police Investigating 'Strong Lead' in Case of Man Approaching Child

Police are investigating a report of a "suspicious incident" in which a man tried to get a young girl in his car last week.

A Sykesville Police representative said that the department is investigating one lead and continuing to tell parents to educate their children after a "suspicious incident" that occured last week. 

On Tuesday, March 12, at approximately 7 p.m., an 11-year-old was approached by a white male in the area of Brandenburg Circle and Norris Avenue in Sykesville, according to the Town of Sykesville website.

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The male was operating a dark-colored vehicle, possibly a Volkswagen, when he spoke to the child, saying he was sent by her parents to pick her up due to an emergency, officials said. The suspect never left the vehicle and the child did not have any contact with him and left, according to reports.

Sykesville Police Chief John Williams told Patch that there have been no reports of additional incidents or even similiar incidents in the area. He said they are following up on one lead. 

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"We did get one pretty good lead that we’re looking into," Williams said. "We'll see how that develops."

Williams said parents should take this opportunity to talk to their children and tell them what to do if they are approached by a stranger. 

"The young girl in this situation did all the right things," he said of last week's incident. 

Chief Williams said that in the case of suspicious incidents or behavior such as this, witnesses should try to gather as much information as possible but to avoid approaching the suspect. 

Take a photo of the car and the tags, call 911 and report what you've seen to an officer, Williams said. 

Other police agencies, including the state police and county sheriff's department, have made a point to be more visible in Sykesville neighborhoods since the incident Williams said. 

"Hopefully the visible presence of marked police units will deter this type of activity," Williams said. 

If you have information about last week's suspicous incident please contact the Sykesville Police Department at 410-795-0757.


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