Police: 'Stranger Danger' Lesson Led to Claim Man Tried to Lure Child with Candy

A lesson on "stranger danger" may have led a Wallingford third-grader to claim a man tried to lure her into his car with candy, according to police.

The girl's mother reported the incident that was alleged to have happened in the area of Wharton Brook Drive on Sept. 26, according to police.

But on Tuesday, police confirmed that the incident didn't happen.

"Upon further discussions with police detectives, the complainant recanted her account of the incident," Lt. Marc Mikulski said in a release Tuesday. "According to the complainant’s mother there had been some discussions in her daughter’s third grade classroom regarding 'stranger danger' that may have contributed to the story."

Children need to be aware of the dangers, but that can make them more anxious, Mikulski said. 

"The discussion of 'Stranger danger' by parents and/or teachers is an idea that can certainly increase anxiety levels in children, but never the less needs to be addressed," Mikulski said.  

For more information on how to raise a child’s awareness to personal safety issues, contact the Wallingford Police Department’s Youth Division at 203-294-2825.