Attempted Luring in Manalapan

A man tried coaxing three Manalapan boys into his vehicle Sunday near Lambs Lane in the Township, saying he needed their help finding a missing cat, according to authorities. 

The preteen boys ran away. Sunday's incident has prompted Police Chief Christopher Marsala to place extra officers on patrol, according to the Asbury Park Press.

The Police Department's Facebook page describes the vehicle as a four-door silver sedan with unknown New Jersey license plates.

The suspect is described as a white man believed to be in his 50's with brown and gray, shoulder length hair. He may have a message and bags under his eyes.

Manalapan police also are urging parents to talk to their children about "stranger danger" in the wake of the incident. Suspicious people or vehicles should be reported to authorities immediately.

Meanwhile, in Wall Township, parents are being warned about suspicious text messages. Police there are trying to figure out the sender of random text messages to children, trying to engage them in conversations and getting them to meet at places, such as Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson.