Attempted child abduction leads to increased police patrols

IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — Iredell County Sheriff deputies are investigating Tuesday an attempted child abduction involving an 11-year-old boy north of Statesville.  

The boy's mother, Wendy Hester, is taking precautions after she said someone ordered her son into their car feet from her front door. 

"It's really scary. You don't think it can happen to you but it can," Hester said.

Hester said her son was riding his bicycle in the Country Life Estates neighborhood, eight miles north of Statesville, when a car pulled up next to him. She said the passenger in the car ordered her son inside.

"He opened the passenger side door and said 'I'm going to get you.' When my son took off running, he started cussing and left," Hester said.

Sheriff deputies say the 11-year-old and a second boy were outside when it happened. 

Hester said her son was "shaking all over" when he reached the house.

"He was red, and he was scared," she said.

Hester's son, who ran through a field to reach his home, said the man was in a gray vehicle and wearing a black toboggan.  

Since then, deputies have stepped up patrols in the area and around bus stops.

Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell was in the area first thing this morning to help. 

"The roadways lead from everywhere. If they're out playing, you want to keep an eye on them," Campbell said. "You also want to talk with them if something like this happens. Never get in a vehicle and definitely go tell your parents."

Neighbors like Bill Kuhn aren't taking any chances. He has an 8-year-old grandson and put up a small wireless camera by the road today. 

"This will help anyway," Kuhn said. "You don't want anything happening to the kids."

Kuhn said he saw a gray car at the entrance to the neighborhood around the time the attempted abduction happened.

Campbell said the increased patrols will stay in place for now.

WSOC