Shawnee mom has message after stranger tries to lure kids into truck

SHAWNEE, Kan. – Neighbors in western Shawnee are on high alert after one mom said a stranger tried to lure her kids off their property and into a truck.

Police said it happened in early September and involved a woman and a red pick-up truck.

She didn’t want to talk on camera, but said her kids won’t stay outside by themselves anymore – after this incident with the red truck.

“I worry,” neighbor Sue Gardner said. “I’m a grandma, I worry.”

Gardner has lived near 75th and Chouteau for more than 30 years.

She said the neighbors and their kids all need to look out for each other after a stranger reportedly waved two children over to a car.

“I just told the neighbors to be careful because they’ve got small children,” Gardner said, “that somebody could come by and just pick them up.”

Police said it happened at about 7 p-m on September 3.

A 911 caller said two children were jumping on a trampoline in their fenced-in yard when a woman in a red pick-up truck tried to wave the children over.

The children’s mom sent us a photo of a red truck. She told FOX4 her kids said the red truck was parked at a stop sign outside their house. The woman got out of the vehicle and motioned for them to come over.

When the children did not, they said the woman got back in truck and waved for them to come over another time.

The mom says someone else was driving the truck. She said eight minutes later, what looked to be the same truck drove by again.

This mom has a message to other parents, “be on watch at all times because you never know,” She said, “I would never think someone would do this.”

Police said the children went inside and told their parents.

Gardner thinks of her 7-year-old granddaughter who visits the area.

“I think it’s terrifying,” Gardner said, “I do have a granddaughter who’s here periodically but she’s never in the yard by herself.”

Shawnee police encourage parents to talk with your children about not approaching strangers.

“I just want to make sure the kiddos are safe – that’s all I care about,” Gardner said. “Neighbors we need to be aware of the truck riding around or if there’s some others vehicle riding around. Everybody knows to be observant.”

Shawnee police are still investigating this case. If you know anything, give them a call at (913) 631-2155.

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