Cautionary Tale: Might be Best Not to Offer Candy to Children, Even if You Are Their Cousin

A stranger alert sent out to Elmhurst residents via School District 205 on Wednesday afternoon turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.

At about 11:25 a.m., police sent out a bulletin to the district, which in turn sent it out to parents, stating that a group of Jackson Elementary School students in first through fifth grade had been approached before school on Wednesday by two men in a white pickup truck who offered them lollipops. The students, who were standing at the corner of Van Buren and Saylor, said no to the men and reported the incident to school officials. After a police investigation, the bulletin, which contained a detailed description of the men and their vehicle, was distributed by email.

But by 1:40 p.m., the matter was resolved, and the identity of the men in the truck was confirmed by Elmhurst police.

"Deputy Chief Dominick Panico reports that while the details previously released were accurate, upon further conversation with the children, it was discovered that the driver of the white truck was a family member (cousin) of one of the children in the group," according to a followup letter to families.

The young child didn't immediately recognize the individual, and the "instincts of the oldest child in the group took over," the letter states.

The children acted appropriately, as did Jackson School authorities, according to police.

"Thankfully, these children were never in any harm," the letter states. "Police have spoken to the men in the truck to explain the perception that was created, even though the intentions were never malicious.  Kudos to teachers and parents for providing the proper guidance and to our students for keeping a level head and following the instructions they have been given."