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Police: Accusations Of Luring Attempt In Lyndhurst Made Up

LYNDHURST, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — As authorities continue to investigate a series of attempted abductions, police in New Jersey said accusations of a man trying to lure two boys in Lyndhurst was a hoax.

Police had been questioning a man for allegedly trying to lure two boys with video games, but the man has since been released. Police said the young boys made up the story.

1010 WINS' Glenn Schuck reports

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"It was discovered that the boys had in fact made the story up to kind of cover their tracks," Lyndhurst Police Chief James O'Connor told WCBS 880 reporter Sean Adams. "One of the boys was somewhere where he wasn't supposed to be."

Meanwhile, police are still searching for a suspect wanted in connection with four other luring incidents.

WCBS 880's Sean Adams reports

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A man tried to abduct a 13-year-old girl on a walking trail near a ball field packed with children and parents Friday in Hawthorne, police said.

"She was able to break free and started screaming and stuff. That's when everyone on the field heard that and started going that way," said Chris Greig. "Unfortunately, he got away."

In Hackensack, police said a man tried to lure an 11-year-old boy into his white Jeep Wrangler, police said. The boy didn't cooperate.

Over the past month in Maywood, police said a man tried to kidnap a girl in front of her own home.

"The man approached the 8-year-old girl who was on street and invited her to go look at his puppies," said Maywood Police Chief David Pegg.

There was a similar incident in Oradell where a man approached a 7-year-old girl, police said. She didn't have a description other than to say he was driving a grey car.

Police have released sketches of the suspects from the incidents in Maywood, Oradell and Hackensack.

"We've all been working together. There was a meeting yesterday with all the area departments and agencies to discuss plans and what's going on with that," Pegg said.

Despite the Lyndhurst attempted abduction being a hoax, investigators are warning parents to talk to their children about stranger danger and staying alert.

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