By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

HAHNVILLE – St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne said Thursday a pair of reports of possible attempted child abductions in two parish neighborhoods Tuesday should serve as a good reminder of the potential dangers of children talking to strangers.

Champagne said in both incidents the children involved balked at attempts from male subjects trying to entice them into vehicles.

“They did the best thing they could have possibly done,” Champagne said. “They said ‘no’ and immediately told their parents what happened. Even if no harm was intended, you can never be too careful.”

The first incident occurred around 2:15 p.m. Thursday, in the Barber Road area of Paradis, when a white male with gray hair in a white van stopped and asked two young girls to help him locating his missing dog. The man also asked if they needed a ride.

Champagne said deputies were later able to locate and interview the subject, who told deputies he and his girlfriend were in fact attempting to locate their missing dog in separate vehicles, and he had stopped and asked numerous residents in the area if they had seen the pet.

The second incident occurred a few hours later in Luling around 6 p.m. in the Collier Drive area. Champagne said three juveniles were approached by a white male with gray hair who asked the children if they wanted to “go to a parade.” The man was reportedly driving a white older model car.

In interviews with authorities, the children said although they continued to refuse, the man was somewhat persistent in his attempts to get them in his vehicle. Authorities are currently re-interviewing witnesses and walking the neighborhood looking for possible clues.

Champagne said investigators do not believe the incidents are linked in any way. He said neither individual got out of their vehicles, and neither was forceful in trying to get the children into the vehicles.

“We can’t say with any certainty that either case was an abduction attempt,” Champagne said. “We are still actively investigating.”

Champagne said anyone with any information concerning these incidents or any others should contact Lt. Renee Kinler at 985-783-1135 or the parish 911 center at 783-6807.

“Now is a good time to remind your children about encounters with strangers,” Champagne said in an email to parish residents. “Your child should consider everyone outside of your immediate family members a stranger unless you say differently.”