Urbana Police report new child luring incident one month after previous case

URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The Urbana Police Department is investigating after they said someone tried to lure a child who was walking home from school on Tuesday.

Department officials said the attempted luring happened around 3:30 p.m. near the intersection of Kinch Street and Michigan Avenue. The suspect is reported to have offered candy to the child and repeatedly asked them questions.

Officials said the child ignored the suspect, made it home safely and reported the incident to a parent, who then called police.

This incident comes one month after another attempted luring in Urbana , which prompted community backlash toward Urbana Police for their failure to start an investigation the day it happened. Chief Larry Boone has apologized for the department’s mistake and a suspect was arrested and charged in that case.

This time, the department dispatched officers and detectives immediately to canvass the area. The only description of the suspect they have is a man who was driving a dark-colored or black SUV.

Detectives are looking for surveillance footage that was recorded on Michigan Avenue between Kinch Street and Greenridge Drive. If anyone on that block has security cameras outside their homes, they are asked to call the Urbana Police Department at 217-384-2320.

Officials added that going forward, the department will be providing extra patrol officers to all schools during both arrival and dismissal times. This was a promise they also made following the attempted luring last month.

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