Man Tried to Lure Kids at Bus Stop with Dandelions: Police

A man tried to lure students from Grissom Middle School into his car last week by offering to sell them dandelions, police said.

Four students, who were waiting for the school bus at about 8:15 a.m. on Oct. 24, told a school social worker that a suspicious man had tried to lure them into his tan car, Tinley Park police said.

Police said the man stopped at a bus stop, located near the intersection of 174th and Odell, asking the children "Did you know you can count the seeds in a dandelion?" He then offered to sell the flowers for seven cents.  

The suspect drove off after one student used a cell phone to call her mother, police said. The four children boarded the school bus and told the social worker after arriving at the middle school, located at 17000 80th Ave. She informed school administration before Tinley Park police were called.

The suspect is described an a man in his 60s or 70s who has balding black and gray hair, a saggy face and bags under his eyes, police said. His car is a rundown older, tan 4-door with tan seats and tinted rear windows. The car reportedly creaked when in motion.

Police said additional patrols will added around District 140 and 146 school areas.