Attempted Child Abduction Under Investigation In Camden Co.

BERLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ — An attempted abduction of a child walking to school on Wednesday in Camden County is under investigation, authorities said.

An 8-year-old girl reported the incident to staff at Berlin Township's John F. Kennedy Elementary School, according to the Camden County Prosecutor's Office.

She told officials that an unknown male approached her from behind and tried to abduct her at about 8:45 a.m. Wednesday around Washington and Grove Avenues, officials said.

The victim fought off the suspect and ran to school, authorities said. The child believes she stabbed the suspect with a pencil she was carrying, so he may have a facial injury, authorities said.

No injuries to the child were reported.

The suspect was described as a Black male with dark skin and a dark beard, who wore black clothes and a baseball cap with an unknown symbol on it, according to the prosecutor's office.

The prosecutor's office advised the public to remain vigilant and contact detectives about any suspicious individuals or activity they may have seen in the area.

Anyone with information related to the investigation can contact Det. William DeFoney of the Camden County Prosecutor's Office Special Victims Unit at 856-952-7460 and Det. Sgt. Colin Kelbaugh of the Berlin Township Police Department at 856-767-5878, ext. 668. Tips can also be sent to CAMDEN.TIPS.