Friday, October 16, 2026
Lynbrook police are working to identify a man who allegedly tried to lure a middle school-aged student into his vehicle while she was walking home from school on Wednesday, Oct. 14.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:10 p.m. near Merrick Road and Lynbrook Avenue, where the student was walking eastbound along the north side of Merrick Road, according to Lynbrook Police Chief Brian Paladino.
Paladino said the student noticed a vehicle appearing to linger nearby shortly before the driver pulled into the parking lot of Sportime Lynbrook, at 175 Merrick Road. The man parked close to the curb, apparently positioning his vehicle to speak with the student as she passed.
The driver, described as a white man between 50 and 70 years old with gray or white hair, rolled down his window and attempted to get the girl's attention.
"He basically said, 'Hi there,' you know, he tried to get her attention," Paladino said. "And then he was like, 'Why don't you get in the car with me?'"
The student declined, telling the man she was OK. He continued to urge her to get into the vehicle, but she refused again and kept walking.
The man then drove out of the parking lot and left the area, Paladino said. He never exited his vehicle, and there was no physical contact between him and the student.
Police said the girl immediately notified her parents about the encounter.
Investigators are now reviewing surveillance footage from Sportime and cameras throughout the village in an effort to identify the driver and his vehicle.
According to Paladino, the car appears to be an older Mercedes-Benz, possibly a 2003 model, with four doors and a light blue or gray exterior. Three surveillance images captured the vehicle, all of which appear to show a bluish tint.
"It's a pretty distinguished car, because it's not a very common car and it seems older," Paladino said.
Although the vehicle was not captured by the village's license plate readers, police obtained footage from Sportime's surveillance system and two additional village cameras. Investigators are working to make out a license plate visible in the footage, though the image remains unclear.
"We have a fuzzy plate that we're trying to figure out," Paladino said.
Paladino emphasized that the man does not appear to have been a member of Sportime and that investigators believe he entered the parking lot specifically to get closer to the student.
Police are also examining whether the encounter could constitute child luring, an offense under New York state law. Paladino said investigators would consult with the Nassau County District Attorney's Office to determine whether that charge would be appropriate.
"We'd like find who this is, and go from there," Paladino said.
The department has released images of the vehicle on social media and is asking anyone who recognizes it or has information about the encounter to contact Lynbrook police.
Following the incident, police also urged parents to discuss safety precautions with their children, including never approaching unfamiliar vehicles, remaining aware of their surroundings and immediately reporting suspicious encounters.
Paladino, who is also a parent, acknowledged the concern that incidents like this can create for families, while expressing relief that the student was unharmed.
"These things happen in life and you can't prevent everything from happening," he said. "Thank God nothing else happened."
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Lynbrook Police Department or reach out through its social media pages.
