Pocono News Section

Neighbors On Edge After Abduction Attempt

Neighbors On Edge After Abduction Attempt - Monday, May 4, 2009 at 5:20PM EST

PLYMOUTH, LUZERNE COUNTY- Parents and police are on alert after an attempted child abduction. It happened late Sunday morning in a quiet Plymouth neighborhood.
The area of Mill and Coal Streets in Plymouth is a neighborhood where everyone knows one another. But Sunday morning, that tranquility was shattered by an attempted child abduction.

Rosemary Burke said, “That is shocking for this neighborhood. These people have been living here for years and years and years."

Cops say two kids were playing in their backyard when the suspect jumped out of a brushy-area, and grabbed one of the kids, a 5-year-old girl, and told her he was taking her to jail.

She was able to scream, kick and get away. Joe Stanitis said, “I grew up here and we never heard of this, back in the 70s, 80s, so, I don't know why it’s happening."

The good thing is the kids got a good description of the suspect. They describe him as a white man, who's about 6 feet tall with dark hair. Also, the most distinguishing feature is that he had a dirty appearance.

Police kept a constant watch on the area Monday, especially when kids got out of school. Plymouth Police Chief Myles Collins said, “Parents have got to be on their toes, very vigilant and again, anything suspicious, report it to 9-1-1 or Plymouth Borough Police."

People who live in this neighborhood say they will be vigilant, keeping an eye out for anything unusual. Rosemary added, “I think it’s disgusting that there's people like that walking around the streets."

Joe said, “I'm hoping they get him, definitely, because like you said, this hits too close to home."