Swampscott investigates kidnap try

SWAMPSCOTT – Police are urging caution after a local fourth-grader reported a possible abduction attempt that occurred Thursday afternoon.”This doesn’t happen very often, but we take it very seriously and we want residents to be aware,” said Detective Sgt. Tim Cassidy. “If parents see anything suspicious, they should call us.”According to a release from the police department, a fourth-grade student who lives in town but attends private school reported to her school Friday morning that she was stopped on Thursday afternoon at approximately 4:30 p.m. while walking in the area of Atlantic Avenue and Bradlee Avenue.According to police, the young girl said that two men in a large white commercial van with tinted windows stopped and said, “Hi, do you want a ride?”The girl said that she continued to walk faster and that the white van pulled up next to her again. This time the occupants said, “Hey, are you sure you don’t want a ride?”Detective Cassidy said that they had no description of the males suspected in the incident and he said that the passenger-side window was only cracked open.Neighbors in the area reported Friday afternoon that they were surprised at the news and said that they had seen nothing unusual the previous day.”Ninety-nine percent of the time, I walk with the children, but I will tell them to be careful,” said Bradlee Road resident Varghese Samuel.Betty Shrater, who lives on Atlantic Avenue, said that she normally sits in a window overlooking a side street but hadn’t seen anything the previous afternoon.Selectman David Van Dam said Friday that he had been unaware of the incident, but that he recommended residents always trust their instincts and remain vigilant.”I always urge people to be vigilant,” Van Dam said. “People can let their guard down when they’re home?and though Swampscott is a wonderful and safe community, these incidents can happen anywhere.”