Suspicious Person Sought in Two Oradell Incidents

Bergen County police departments were asked to be vigilant after two incidents of a suspicious person approaching children were reported during the week in Oradell with an additional incident taking place in Woodcliff Lake.

The Oradell Police Department responded to a Hasbrouck Boulevard home on Monday after the home's resident reported a suspicious person had approached their six-year-old daughter.

"The investigation revealed that an unknown male approached a six-year-old female and initiated a conversation," said OPD Lt. Michael Oslacky in his letter to the principal of Oradell Public School. "The child's father quickly confronted the unknown male and he advised police that the male asked for directions to the New Milford Library."

Police said the girl's father reported the unknown man left without "further incident."

There was a second incident on Wednesday involving a 12-year-old girl at the corner of Pyle St. and Martin St. in Oradell. 

"An unknown male drove his vehicle towards her and tried to get her attention," Oslacky said in his letter. "The female did not engage in any conversation with the male actor and she quickly ran from the subject to a nearby store on Kinderkamack Road."

After leaving the store, according to police, the girl returned home where someone dialed 911 to report the incident to police.

Approximately 20 minutes after the Wednesday incident in Oradell, a 15-year-old girl in Woodcliff Lake was approached by a suspicious person matching the description of the suspect in the two Oradell incidents, according to police.

Police described the suspect as a white male, 50 to 60 years of age who is balding with gray hair. The suspect's vehicle is described as a gray or beige four-door sedan. 

New Milford Police Chief Frank Papapietro offered the following tips to parents:

• Always know where your child is and where they are going as well as the intended route
• Have them call you when they arrive at their location and again when they leave to return
• Take notice of the clothing your child is wearing when they leave the house
• Tell children never to approach a strange vehicle or speak to its occupants. This applies to strangers not in a vehicle as well.
• Report all incidents immediately and be sure they have 9-1-1 as well as a parent contact number on speed dial
• If they feel threatened teach them to run away while yelling for help