Attempted Luring at School Used as Polling Place

Girl approached by man in school parking lot, then offered a ride, police say

Officials in Delaware County are considering moving a polling location out of a middle school after a man tried to abduct a student.

The 14-year-old girl was standing in the parking lot of the Northley Middle School in Aston, Pa. around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday when police say she was approached by a man.

The unidentified man began talking to the girl about the Flyers after noticing the girl's tee shirt, police say. He then went inside the school to vote before returning about five minutes later.

The girl told authorities they continued to talk about hockey, before the man offered her a ride home. She told the man no and then went back inside the school and told a teacher what happened, police say.

"It's very disturbing and obviously we would like to find out who is responsible for this," Aston Police Chief Dan Ruggieri said Wednesday.

The man is believed to be in his 50s with a graying beard. He was wearing brown hat, jeans and a jacket.

Tuesday's attempted luring is the third in a series of lurking incidents in the Penn-Delco School District.

Just over a week ago, a similar man offered a 12-year-old girl a ride as she walked home from school. That man began shouting and demanding the girl get inside before she ran away, police said.

In late April, a much younger man stopped his car to talk to another student as they walked home.

Investigators do not believe the cases are linked, but nevertheless, the district is on alert.

"We are very concerned anytime a stranger comes up and offers a student a ride home," Penn-Delco Superintendent Dr. George Steinhoff said.

Dr. Steinhoff says the district will review the decision to use the school as a polling location in light of Tuesday's incident.

"It's always an opportunity for us to take a look at our practices and make sure we're really as secure as we need to be," he said.

Anyone with information on either man are asked to call Aston Police at 610.497.2633.

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