Paterson New Jersey police are investigating reports of an adult male trying to lure students into a car at a local elementary school.

According to law enforcement, the suspect was spotted driving a black Honda in the vicinity of the New Roberto Clemente School on Market Street in Paterson, NJ. Several underage students at the Paterson school told parents and school officials that the suspect attempted to get them inside the car.

Police have been conducting an investigation for the past few weeks and were able to determine that the suspect’s vehicle was probably stolen. Investigators made that determination after getting the license plate number for the motor vehicle.

The suspect has also been accused of trying to lure students at other Paterson schools in recent weeks.

The New Roberto Clemente School principal sent a message to parents and asked that parents make sure their children don’t walk to or from school by themselves.

If and when Paterson authorities are able to identify and arrest the suspect, he would likely face serious criminal charges for luring. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:13-6, anyone who attempts to lure or entice a child into a car with a purpose to commit a crime with or against the child can be charged with a second degree felony. A conviction for second degree luring could result in a sentence of 5-10 years in NJ State Prison.

For further information about this case, check out the NJ.com article, “Luring Incident at Paterson School under Investigation.”