Man Claiming to Know Santa Attempts to Lure Child in Dutchess County

A Dutchess County, NY school district has issued a safety notice after an individual allegedly attempted to lure a child at a bus stop.

If you are a parent, you are well aware that one of our biggest fears is our kid's safety after they leave the house. As a parent myself I make a point to remind my kids as often as possible about the type of dangerous situations they should be prepared for when I'm not around to protect them. One of those situations is eerily similar to what allegedly happened in Hyde Park, New York recently.

Possible Child Abduction in Hyde Park, New York

The Superintendent of Schools in Hyde Park, Dr. Pedro Roman informed parents on the district Facebook page on Monday of a possible abduction attempt that happened at one of the school district bus stops. The message stated that a parent informed the school district that after they picked up their pre-K student from the Holy Trinity bus stop in Hyde Park, they were approached by a man in a dark-colored SUV who allegedly attempted to lure them to his car. The message stated the man told them that he has a "sign business and connections with Santa Claus" according to Dr. Roman.

Dr. Roman informed parents that the incident has been reported to the Hyde Park Police Department and they are actively investigating what happened. He went on to remind all families to "remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the police immediately. The safety and well-being of our students and staff are our top priority."

Safety Tips for Children

When something like this happens it's a perfect time to remind parents to tell their children they should always follow some of these safety tips:

Stranger Danger: Never talk to or go with strangers, even if they seem friendly or offer gifts.
Buddy System: Encourage your children to walk to and from school with a friend or in a group.
Safe Routes: Teach your children to stay on sidewalks and cross at designated crosswalks.
Emergency Contacts: Ensure your children know how to contact you or another trusted adult in case of an emergency.

This is a developing story. When more information about this incident is available we will update this article.