Highland Park police have arrested a Waukegan man in connection with two child luring incidents, officials announced Tuesday.
Mazher Syed, 42, of the 3000 block of West 8th Street, Waukegan, was arrested Aug. 20 after police had launched an investigation into two child luring incidents that reportedly occurred Aug. 18 and Aug. 19, according to a news release from the city.
Police said Syed’s bond was set at $100,000 at a bond hearing in Lake County court in Waukegan.
William Bonaguidi, Highland Park Police Department deputy chief, said Syed allegedly approached a girl Aug. 18 in a vehicle that Syed was borrowing. The girl was walking down a street in Highwood. Syed initiated conversation from the car, which was the extent of the interaction, Bonaguidi said.
The deputy chief explained that the same kind of incident occurred the following day in Highland Park.
Then on Aug. 20, as part of an investigation by Highland Park police, Syed was positively identified and he later surrendered to police, officials said.
Syed is charged with four counts of child luring, which is a Class 4 felony.
Police said there have been no other reported incidents involving the individual in the area. Still Bonaguidi said the department put out a notice to other local police departments just in case they had similar instances. To date, there have been no other reported incidents, he said.
In response, officials are using the incidences as an opportunity to encourage parents to speak with their children about stranger awareness. Officials at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children say attempted abductions occur most often when a child is going to or from school, the release states. Offenders do this by offering a ride, candy or a pet and frequently target girls and children between the age of 10 and 14, the release states.
“With hands-on activities, role-playing scenarios and sample language, parents and guardians can help children self-advocate and understand how to protect themselves from a potentially dangerous encounter,” the release states.
Bonaguidi said there is currently no active threat to the community in connection with the incidents or Syed’s arrest. But, he said he still thinks parents speaking with their children about these issues is valuable.
“We always encourage parents to have conversations with their children so they’re always alert, because unfortunately there are offenders out in the world,” he said.