Attempted Child Luring In Palmyra Has Parents On Edge

By Oren Liebermann

PALMYRA, Pa. (CBS) -- In a quiet neighborhood in Palmyra, every parent's fear became reality on Thursday morning right before school started.

Police say a 13-year-old girl was walking to school at 7:30 a.m., when a man pulled up beside her and yelled at her to get in the car.

Luckily, the girl knew what to do.

"She didn't get in the car," said Palmyra Police Chief Scott Pearlman. "She pulled out her cell phone and made like she was calling somebody and continued walking."

The attempted luring has stunned a community that's not used to crime.

"I don't think they'd be from around here, because I think they'd know they're not going to get away with it," said Jesse Lanni.

Police say another attempted luring may have happened six weeks ago, when a driver pulled up to the curb near a group of kids. Nothing was said, and police say the suspect's description is different, but the worry for parents is the same.

"Kids all get driven to school because there's no bussing in this town, so I guess it's easy access for these predators to go after kids, because they know lots of kids walk to school," said Chris Conway.

Officers will look out for any suspicious vehicles roaming the streets, but police urge parents to have their kids walk to school in pairs or bigger groups for protection.