Apr 6, 2015 2 min read

Canonsburg police are beefing up patrols around Canonsburg Middle School after a 13-year-old boy told them a man tried to lure him into his pickup truck Thursday afternoon.

The boy told police he was walking home about 1 p.m. when an older man with long hair in a red pickup truck with black spots and rust stopped him near the intersection of West College and North Jefferson streets. The district had an early dismissal Thursday.

The man reportedly tried to get the boy in the vehicle, offering candy and a towel to dry off with because it was raining heavily at the time. The boy told police he had already called his brother to pick him up. The suspect fled west on West College when the boy’s brother arrived.

Police notified the school district.

“We have added extra patrols during the school hours,” said Chief Al Coghill. “I will be part of those patrols, as well. But I urge parents to be vigilant. It is a good idea that no child walk home alone.”

An assistant principal at the school told police they would sent a letter home to alert parents of the situation.

“We have good lines of communication with the school, and they have responded appropriately,” the chief added. “We will treat this seriously until we find out otherwise that it was just a misunderstanding.”

Police said the man who allegedly tried to lure the boy is described as white and in his late 50s or early 60s. His gray and black hair fell below his shoulders. He had a thin build.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 724-745-8020, extension 518.