Crime & Safety

Police Chief Describes Incident As Suspicious Behavior, But Not Luring

Incident occurred on Glenwood Drive on Thursday afternoon, police say

Although the incident involving a minivan and two young girls on Thursday on Glenwood Drive is still considered suspicious, it did not rise to the level of luring, Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele said this afternoon.

"This is considered an isolated incident at this time," the chief said. "However, parents should always remain vigilant. It should be noted that these two girls did exactly what they were told to do in "Stranger Danger" classes."

The investigation into the incident involving a light teal-colored minivan and the two girls - ages 7 and 9 - is continuing, DiMichele said.

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"This incident is not being considered a luring case at this time," she said.


The two girls were playing in the yard when they noticed a vehicle slow to a stop in front of the yard. The minivan was driven by a female in her late 20s to early 30s, the chief said.

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A young female in the van between 11 and 13 years old, was seated in the back of the minivan, along with a small boy in a car seat. The young female was the one who asked the two girls if they "wanted to come for a ride," DiMichele said.

"The two girls immediately ran to one of their houses," the chief said. "The minivan left the area at a normal speed.  There was no adult male observed in the vehicle at all."

The issue surfaced at the Oct. 25 Board of Education meeting when Berkeley Township Schools Superintendent James D. Roselli announced that reports of a luring incident were unsubstantiated.

Superintendent James D. Roselli sent an e-mail Friday afternoon informing the district staff that DiMichele had called him at 12:45 p.m. to confirm a suspicious incident.

The investigation into the incident is continuing, the chief said today.


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