Oak Park police issued a warning to neighbors and beefed up patrols near Rehm Park after a man attempted to grab the backpack of a 12-year-old male student walking home from school at 3:45 p.m. Monday in the 1100 block of S. East Ave.
According to police, the man followed the boy southbound on East Avenue for two blocks before getting close enough to reach out and grab the backpack. The Ascension School student felt a tug and began to run, freeing himself from the man’s grasp, said police. The man did not chase the student, no words were exchanged and no suspect vehicle was observed.
The offender was described as a bald, white Hispanic male in his 30s, 5-feet, 11-inches tall, wearing sunglasses, a red hoodie and blue jeans. Anyone with any information regarding this incident is encouraged to call Oak Park police at 708-366-3800.
