Crime & Safety

Police Increase Patrols in Response to Suspicious Incident

No additional incidents reported.

Police in Orangetown and adjacent Northvale, NJ, have stepped patrols along the Tappan border after a report of a suspicious incident involving a child.

Orangetown Lt. Anthony Mercurio said their have been no other reports of suspicious incidents since the one on Tuesday afternoon, but he said additional patrols in the area by Orangetown and Northvale are being performed as a precaution.

On Tuesday, a 9-year-old Tappan boy said he was followed home from the school bus stop by a man in a white van. If you think you have information about the incident, police ask that you call them at 845-359-3700.

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The child got off a school bus at about 4 p.m. at Stephens Road and Andre Avenue in Tappan about 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The boy reported he saw a white van driven by a man parked on Stephens Road.

As the boy walked north on Stephens Road to go home, police said the van slowly followed him. The child started to run and the van sped up.

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When the boy got into his home, he reported that the van stopped briefly in front of his home and then left the area heading north on Stephens Road.

The child told police:

- The van was white, possibly a Ford.

- The van had one large window on the rear driver's side.

- The child could see through the van's window, and noted the van was full of branches.

- The license plate was possibly white and blue in color.

Police checked the area but were unable to find the vehicle.

If you have information about this incident, make reference to incident No. 12-25725 when you call police. Police said this appears to be an isolated inscident.

 


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