SHREWSBURY, MASS. (WHDH) - Shrewsbury police announced an investigation Thursday following a report of a suspicious man who police said posed as an Uber driver to try to pick up children at a bus stop.
Police said the incident happened Wednesday morning at a bus stop at the Shrewsbury Commons apartment complex when a man described as being in his late 30s to 40s driving a black sedan approached a group of students and told them their parents called them an Uber and he was going to drive them to school.
Shrewsbury Superintendent of Schools Joe Sawyer said in a statement that the three elementary school students attend the nearby Floral Street School in Shrewsbury. Sawyer said the students refused to get into the car when asked and said they were taking the bus. Sawyer said the man drove away as the students’ bus pulled up.
The incident remained under investigation as of Thursday afternoon, according to police.
In the meantime, police said they will be increasing their presence in the area.
Police also urged parents to remind children to never get into a vehicle with a stranger.
“I’m disappointed to hear that’s happening here,” one Shrewsbury Commons resident told 7NEWS on Thursday afternoon. “It’s a very pleasant place to live.
The resident said there are children playing “all over” when he arrives home in the evening.
“I think that’s a horrible thing and I hope they catch the guy,” he said of the incident this week.
Police asked anyone with information on this incident to call Officer Shawn Valliere at 508-841-8435.
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