Local cops looking for a white van

[VanTrekker]

Several people&nbsp;in a white van tried to abduct a little boy today in town.&nbsp; Thankfully&nbsp;they were unsuccessful since the father was nearby.&nbsp; Also, there is an effort to find two little girls abducted 20 days ago near Waterloo.&nbsp;&nbsp;The same or a similar van was seen nearby.&nbsp; The&nbsp;feds&nbsp;think there is a link.&nbsp;<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kwwl.com/story/19174082/...hite-astro-van-in-missing-girls-investigation">http://www.kwwl.com/story/19174082/...hite-astro-van-in-missing-girls-investigation</a><br /><br />The FBI released the picture in this&nbsp;news story.&nbsp; They are trying to locate a white Chevy Astro van from 1990 or so.&nbsp; <br /><br />Oh great...&nbsp; It's not like white vans have the best image to begin with...I hope that the cops don't pester me...&nbsp;At least mine's an Express (and a lot newer).&nbsp;&nbsp; I can just see the vigilanties smokin' me out of the van while camping at Walmart tomorrow. Worse yet, all the cops cracking down and enforcing laws about public sleeping...&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br /><br />V.T.

 

[mockturtle]

Even so, I hope they find the perps! <img src="/images/boards/smilies/mad.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

 

[sl1966]

Holy cow man. For a second I thought you added a clown to your van and attacked one of the local schools or something with it.<br /><br />I hope they catch the freak sooner than later.&nbsp;<br /><br />

 

[VanTrekker]

It's a scary situation.&nbsp; There are several reports of attempted abductions in other neighboring cities.&nbsp; There is some hysteria and rightfully so.<br /><br />Just this morning I walked my friend's kids to school.&nbsp; She said they were safe to walk alone but she was grateful to have a trusted friend make sure they got there okay.&nbsp; If I had kids, I'd be worried nowadays, as well.<br /><br />V.T.

 

[SirJoey]

<br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>Is all this stuff going on in YOUR town, VT?<br /><br />If so, maybe U should spruce up your baby <br />with some colorful graphics or something.&nbsp;<br /><br />Like U said, the plain white vans already&nbsp;have a pretty bad rap. <br />No reason for U to be bundled in with the bad seed.<br /><br /></strong></span>

 

[VanTrekker]

<div style="text-align: left;">The worst abduction case was near Waterloo (60 miles away).&nbsp; We also had recent events in Dubuque, Iowa as well as Cedar Rapids (my hometown) and Marion (a neighboring city).<br /><br />I'm not worried about stealth any more for the kind of camping I do out of town.&nbsp; At Walmart it doesn't really matter.&nbsp; In fact, I'm thinking I don't mind being noticed, if even by the police.<br /><br />The bike rack is on the hitch with a bike on it all the time.&nbsp; I also put Star Trek bumper stickers on the bumpers.&nbsp; Now I'm thinking that it's GOOD not to try and be too&nbsp;stealthy, just look like someone using&nbsp;the van to haul bike crap...&nbsp; (biking is pretty popular here)&nbsp;<br /><br />People (and hopefully cops) will look at it and say "Here's a guy from another county who is&nbsp;riding his bike.&nbsp; He's not a worry.&nbsp; He's just&nbsp;resting at the Walmart"...&nbsp; It might put people at ease more than just a plain van.&nbsp; <br /><br />It just occurred to me that letting the police see the bike in plain view might add some credibility should they roust me.&nbsp; I can say - and justifibly so -&nbsp; "I rode all day and was tired."<br /><br />It's a heck of a good excuse and is the truth, too!<br /><br /></div>

 

[SirJoey]

<br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>Good thinking &amp; all good points, VanTrekker! I totally agree!</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>I always enjoy reading your positive &amp; upbeat posts! <br />Perhaps I'll have the privilege of meeting U one day!</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: 'comic sans ms', sans-serif;"><strong>Hope for only the best for U sir! <br /><br /></strong></span>

 

[VanTrekker]

<p>Thanks Sir Joey.&nbsp; The feeling is mutual!&nbsp; I've learned so much from this forum and it's fun to exchange ideas with others.&nbsp; It would be fun to meet up some time.</p><p>Take care.&nbsp; I'm gonna hit the sack... It's gonna be a long day tomorrow (52 miles on the bike in 95+ degree weather)<br /><br /></p>

 

[Mortisha]

I have been planning to paint my van (I drive an 90s Astro van lol). I was going to go with white for stealth but I decided against it. I am going with Ballet Slipper Pink with decals and artwork =) So my van is going to fit me... a true hello kitty girly girl LOL. I will be painting it as soon as the rain clear up. I just need a few nice days. I have decided to paint it myself. I am broke and so it is my only way. I did find a tutorial on it that looks like something I can do. I will pass it along here. HuggZ<br /><br />http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Poor-Mans-Paint-Job-or...-How-to-paint-your-c/

 

[Seraphim]

I hope the police come up with a&nbsp;general description of the offender: that would come n handy eliminating innocent people as suspects. Don't get caught in an untruth - if you say you were riding all day and a Walmart employee contradicts that, saying you'd been hanging around the parking lot all day...<br /><br />Hope they catch this jerk as well.

 

[psytechguy]

White vans got a bad rep!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_van_speaker_scam

You never hear about this kind of thing involving a pink
or lime green van!