Horry County police looking for suspect after man tries to lure girls at bus stop

Horry County police started searching for a suspicious vehicle Thursday afternoon after the driver allegedly tried to lure in two 9-year-old girls after they got off a school bus in the Longs area, authorities said.

Officers were called about 3:30 p.m. Thursday to the 1000 block of Loop Circle in the Longs area where the girl’s mother told police her daughters were approached by a man who tried to draw them to his vehicle with the promise of seeing a kitten, according to Lt. Raul Denis, Horry County police spokesman.

Police said the girls reported they could see the man had his hand on the door handle as if he was going to try to get them inside his black Jeep Cherokee.

The girls’ grandfather came up from a nearby yard as the suspect was speaking to the girls, and the suspect got startled and drove away toward Highway 905, according to the police report.

The girls’ mother said she had seen the suspect’s vehicle in the area Wednesday afternoon, but did not know who was driving it.

Horry county police ask that the public be on alert and said anyone with information about the suspect can call the HCPD at 843-248-1520.

This story was originally published September 19, 2015 at 8:45 AM with the headline "Horry County police looking for suspect after man tries to lure girls at bus stop."