Man tries to lure girl into car

It happened Sunday afternoon near Prospect and South Washington Street. Just about every parent at the local pool and soccer practice was aware of what happened. But it's the timing with the start of the school year that really had them upset.

"First day of school and the first phone call you get is your wife freaked out about somebody trying to pick up a kid," said parent Derek Bloom.

He's heard this story before. There was an attempted abduction in Paxton last September. But the timing for this crime has parents spooked.

"There were probably a lot of parents who let their kids walk to school for the first time by themselves. Probably made everyone a little bit nervous," said parent Penny Murphy.

Police say the young girl had just left the local pool. She was walking home along South Washington when a man pulled up and asked her to get in his car.

"It's a small town. You don't think it's something you have to worry about," said Murphy.

Although it has parents worried, they're happy police and the school district got the word out as soon as possible.

"I'm very glad that the school contacted us. It's a really proactive thing to do and that they're aware," said Murphy. "It's probably a good first day of school message anyway. You know, for all the kids to be aware, to pay attention and look out for each other."  

And while their kids prepare to learn lessons in the classroom, there's one lesson they're being reminded of at home.

"You just really got to impress upon them that they really need to pay attention to what they're doing and make sure they don't get in a vehicle with anyone they don't know," said Bloom.

The driver is described as a white man with gray hair and a long, gray beard. He was wearing a gray Bud Light t-shirt. He was last seen driving a dark blue four door car west on Summer Street.