Lake County Gazette

In the evening of September 24, 2025, the Highland Park Police Department received a report that an elementary school student had been approached by an unknown person near Ridge Rd. and Devonshire Ct. earlier that afternoon. According to the student, after getting off the school bus at around 2:45 PM, a white box truck with rust near its windows pulled up nearby. The driver, described as a white male with a long black beard, allegedly rolled down his window and said: "Hey kid, get in the car." The student ran home immediately and was unharmed.

Following an investigation that included reviewing available audio and video footage from the area and from inside the vehicle, police identified both the truck and its driver. Authorities determined that this was not an attempted luring incident. They found that while the vehicle was present at the time reported, video and audio from inside showed nothing was said to the student.

"The City takes every reported public safety concern seriously, and investigations into reported threats begin immediately. The City shares information about active investigations as appropriate to help residents understand potential safety issues and make informed decisions for themselves and their families. Fortunately, the investigation determined there was no risk to the student in this case," stated city officials.

The police department urges anyone who may have witnessed anything or has security camera footage from around Ridge Rd. and Devonshire Ct. during that time to contact their Investigations Division at 847.432.7730 or call 911 if they see either the vehicle or suspect described.

Residents or businesses with contractors or delivery drivers operating similar vehicles in that area are also encouraged to notify police to assist with ongoing inquiries.

Authorities remind parents and guardians to discuss safety measures with children when walking to or from school or bus stops:

- Children should never approach or enter a vehicle without permission.

- If approached by someone making them feel unsafe, they should run to a safe location and seek help.

- Suspicious behavior should be reported promptly.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) recommends teaching children about trusted adults—such as uniformed officers or store clerks—and advises against talking with unknown adults who approach them outside or on their way home from school unless given parental permission. NCMEC also encourages role-playing scenarios so children can practice how to respond if approached by strangers.

Parents are encouraged to use resources like KidSmartz (kidsmartz.org), which offers interactive materials in English and Spanish for children in grades K-5 aimed at promoting personal safety awareness through activities such as role-playing scenarios.

Additional updates will be posted on cityhpil.com if more information becomes available.