Jackson police up patrols after possible attempted child abduction

A possible attempted child abduction earlier this month combined with a rash of recent burglaries have Jackson residents on alert.

Lt. Rodney Barnes of the Jackson Police Department said a man reportedly approached a 9-year-old girl in the Indian Hills neighborhood June 21 and said he needed help searching for a lost dog, but no actual abduction took place and the incident is still being investigated.

Barnes said officers in the area responded promptly and used dogs to track any possible suspects, but none was found and there have been no more reports of anyone matching the man's description acting suspiciously.

Barnes said police are unsure of the veracity of the girl's claim but have increased patrols in that area, as they have in other areas of town hit by burglaries of homes and automobiles.

Police have received more calls recently about suspicious people and vehicles, Barnes said.

"As far as this incident is concerned, and the break-ins, a lot of people are seeing us in the neighborhood and there is a heightened awareness," Barnes said, "I don't want anyone to be terrified, but at the same time there are evil people in society."

He said residents should call police immediately if a situation makes them feel unsafe or they see something suspicious.

"The best thing folks can do is report things right away," he said. "If they call in a few days later, that helps us zero."

Pertinent address:

Jackson, MO