Van Driver Who Attempted to Lure Student Is Back

The driver of a van that approached a West Hollow Middle School student earlier this school year, was spotted again Monday morning, according to a school district safety alert.

Suffolk County Police informed the Half Hollow Hills School District that at approximately 7:15 a.m., a West Hollow student noticed a suspicious vehicle while waiting for the bus near Oxford and Arlington Avenues. The vehicle stopped, and the driver watched the student before driving away, said the online alert.

The vehicle, which is said to be a white commercial van with purple graffiti on the back and a darkened circle window on the side, Officials reported that in the previous incident, the driver, described as a white male with a receding hairline, possibly in his mid 30s, attempted to lure a student into the van by offering candy near Oxford Avenue and Bennington Street.

This is the third known incident this school year in which a Half Hollow Hills student has been either lured or followed by a stranger while waiting for the school bus.

The first instance occurred in October, when police alerted the district that an unknown man followed a student home.

In that case, the student became aware that a man in a vehicle described as either a black or dark blue Honda Civic with New York license plates, was watching her in the bus lot of . According to the report, she became uncomfortable as she walked home and ran to a neighbor’s house. The car sped up, and the driver opened the car door, the district said. 

The school district urges parents to discuss with their children the importance of being aware of their surroundings. Anything suspicious should be reported immediately to the Suffolk County Police Department (911).