UPDATE: Kids Made Up Story About Crown Heights Stalker, Police Say

CROWN HEIGHTS, BROOKLYN — The story of a man stalking an 8-year-old girl and her 12-year-old brother in Crown Heights over the weekend was made up by the two kids, police said Monday night.

The kids have recanted their story of a man following them to the bus stop and home from school on Friday and then leaving a menacing note in their mailbox on Saturday night, the NYPD is now saying.

"The entire story was made up," an NYPD spokesman told Patch.

Early Monday morning, the NYPD sent an alert to news organizations with information about the alleged crime, based off of testimony from the two kids.

The young girl said she was followed to the school bus stop on Friday morning by a man moving between cars, and the boy said he was approached when getting off the bus in the afternoon, according to police.

They told stories about the man looking into their home, near Eastern Parkway and Brooklyn Avenue, and asking where they slept, police said.

The most sensational part of their story, which garnered headlines across the city, was a note the kids say the man left in their mailbox.

"Watch out. I am watching you!! Your daughter is cute," the note read, according to the kids.

But none of it was true, according to police. It's unclear who wrote the note, or if it existed at all.

The NYPD also sent out surveillance video showing a man who police said was the suspect in the case. Patch has removed the video and an accompanying photo from this article.

The New York Daily News reported that the man turned himself into police and disputed the claims.

Image: Patch file photo