PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Police are investigating an incident in South Philadelphia in which two men wearing ski masks allegedly tried to lure two teenage girls into their van near a neighborhood playground.<\/p>\n
The attempted luring happened around 4:30 p.m. last Tuesday along the 2300 block of Wharton Street, investigators said. Detectives credited the teens for their fast response.<\/p>\n
“The girls did the right thing. They ran away. The van may have followed them, and that’s why we are extra concerned about this,” said Sgt. Eric Gripp of the Philadelphia Police Department.<\/p>\n
Police say they are searching for a white work van with tinted front windows and no rear windows.<\/p>\n
“It’s a white work van. The windows in the front we believe to be tinted. There are no rear windows, so this is kind of a panel van,” Gripp said.<\/p>\n
According to witnesses, the van had no visible tags and had rust on the rear bumper. The girls were not injured.<\/p>\n
Residents in the surrounding neighborhood said the incident is unsettling for an area they consider tight-knit and watchful.<\/p>\n
“This community is amazing. People usually watch out for each other, but it’s really scary to see something like that happen in this area,” said South Philadelphia resident Chelsea Lightbourne.<\/p>\n
Another resident, Lisa Allen, said the situation made her think about broader safety concerns.<\/p>\n
“You hear so much stuff across the country about human trafficking, and it makes me think that it’s here in Philadelphia, and Philadelphia is better than that,” she said.<\/p>\n
Investigators are urging anyone with information to contact South Detectives.<\/p>\n
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