CNBNews

Berlin Township, NJ – Detectives are investigating an attempted child abduction which occurred in Berlin Township reported Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay and Berlin Township Police Chief Louis Bordi.

On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, officers from the Berlin Township Police Department responded to the John F. Kennedy Elementary School located at 228 Mt. Vernon Avenue for a report of an attempted child abduction.  An 8-year-old girl advised school staff that an unknown male approached her from behind and attempted to abduct her while she was walking to school at approximately 8:45 a.m.  in the area of Washington and Grove Avenues in Berlin Township. The victim was able to fight off the suspect and ran to the school.  The victim believes she stabbed the suspect with a pencil she was carrying so he may have a facial injury. No injuries to the child were reported.  The suspect is described as an African American male with dark skin and a dark beard, wearing black clothes and a baseball cap with an unknown symbol on it. 

The Camden County Prosecutor’s Office asks the public to remain vigilant and to contact detectives about any suspicious individuals or activity they may have observed in this area.

This investigation is active and ongoing at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective William DeFoney of the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office Special Victims Unit at (856) 952-7460 and Detective Sergeant Colin Kelbaugh of the Berlin Township Police Department at 856-767-5878, ext. 668.  Tips can also be sent to CAMDEN.TIPS.