LAKEWOOD, NJ – The Lakewood Police Department responded to a report of an attempted kidnapping in the vicinity of Forest Park Circle at approximately 7:30 PM. Officers were dispatched following a 911 call concerning a male suspect, described as either Black or Hispanic, trying to abduct a teenage girl into a white SUV.
The victim managed to escape, prompting the suspect to flee the scene. During the search, with help from Lakewood Shomrim, authorities discovered a similar incident in a neighboring town, though it remains unclear if the two are connected.
Police did not disclose which town the second abduction occurred in.
The investigation remains underway, with Lakewood Police collaborating closely with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office and the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department. Several leads are being pursued to apprehend the suspect involved in this distressing incident.
This weekend, the greater Lakewood area religious Jewish community will celebrate Purim, a holiday where children dress in costumes and walk the streets and celebrate. Parents are urged to keep their children in close proximity after the reported abductions.
Lakewood Police Chief Greg Meyer asked that families ensure their children are in groups and accompanied by an adult this weekend.
