Sandy police want help tracking down man accused of trying to lure two children

SANDY, Utah — A Sandy mom and police want your help tracking down a possible kidnapper.

Brittany, who preferred KSL TV only use her first name, said a man approached her 8-year-old daughter on June 9 and offered her money to approach him in his car.

It happened near Altara Elementary School in Sandy.

Brittany said her daughter had just left to take the dog on a walk through their quiet neighborhood when she came running through the front door. The girl told her mom a man followed her in his car before asking her name and telling her he wanted to give her money.

That’s when the 8-year-old’s instincts kicked in.

“My stomach dropped,” Brittany told KSL TV on Monday. “You think of the ‘what ifs.’ I am so thankful she ran away.”

Brittany’s security cameras caught the man, who police now say was driving a silver Volkswagen Tiguan, is in his 20s and was wearing a black beanie and hoodie. More than the description, police believe the man’s features will be recognized by someone who knows him. That’s who they want to hear from.

This male attempted to lure two children to his vehicle. The vehicle is a silver Volkswagen Tiguan driven by a white male. The two events happened on 06-06-2022 and 06-09-2022. They were both in the area of 11000 to 11400 east of 700 East. Any info call Sandy PD 801-799-3000 pic.twitter.com/xBKwiBuG63

— Sandy Police (@Sandy_Police) June 13, 2022

“As a parent, it’s terrifying,” said Sgt. Greg Moffitt with the Sandy City Police Department. “We’re concerned that there’s someone like that in the neighborhood that’s doing this.”

They now say another child came forward after Brittany put the incident on the neighborhood Facebook page. Police are not taking this case lightly. In fact, Brittany said police have been patrolling the street day and night since the reports.

As for Brittany, she is relieved her daughter listened to her gut, and she’s glad the family has talked extensively about situational awareness and stranger danger.

“I’m just really, really glad I’ve had lots of talks with my daughter and my other children about stranger safety,” Brittany said. “And not talking to people you don’t know, especially when it gives you an icky feeling inside, to just run.”

Police say help from the public could be the key to cracking who this man is.

If you have any information, you’re asked to call 801-799-3000.