U-46 parents alerted after abduction attempts near Larsen middle

Elgin Area School District U-46 parents were put on alert Friday after two attempted abductions of students this week near Larsen Middle School.

Lt. Sean Rafferty said Elgin Police contacted the district Friday morning after learning of the second attempted abduction of a female middle-school aged student after the east side school let out Thursday.

According to police, the suspect is a Hispanic male in his 20s, seen driving a tan Ford sedan.

An attempted abduction of a student before school hours Tuesday had been reported earlier in the week.

The description of both suspects, "is similar, but not enough to say it's the same person at this point," Rafferty said.

U-46 spokesman Tony Sanders said Elgin families were notified about 2:45 p.m. Friday via the district's reverse-calling system.

District officials also received a police sketch of the Thursday abduction suspect. The picture almost identically resembles the sketch provided by Kane County Forest Preserve Police of the individual suspected of attacking a 19-year-old jogger Tuesday afternoon on the Fox River Trail.

"We can't concretely connect the two incidents," Rafferty said." We do know they are close in proximity."

In its message, U-46 officials reminded parents to "talk to your student about the importance of not talking to people they do not know. If your child ever feels uncomfortable or sees anything suspicious, please tell them how to report it to the police department or school principal as soon as possible."

Individuals with tips are encouraged to call the Elgin Police Department's hotline at (847) 695-4195. Parents with concerns should call the district at (847) 888-5000.