Teen turns phonecam on stranger trying to lure him into car (Clifton, NJ)

USA Today ^ | 8/1/2003 | AP

[lelio]

A 15-year-old boy foiled an apparent abduction attempt when he pulled out his cell phone camera and snapped photos of a man trying to lure him into a car, police said.

The teen also photographed the vehicle's license plate and gave the evidence to police, who arrested a suspect the next day.

[lelio]

Finally a good use for those things

[goldstategop]

Camera cell phones.... darn they look cool and even save a life to boot and help nab a suspect!

[martin_fierro]

Here's the image the teen captured.

[anniegetyourgun]

Way to fight crime, kid!

[Drew68]

I'm surprised this made the news. Isn't there a law or something banning the publication of stories about homosexual predators unless they happen to be catholic priests?

[exnavy]

LOL

[FrogMom]

GREAT thinking, kid!

[4mycountry]

"It's surprising the kid had the presence of mind to use the technology under duress," Detective Capt. Robert Rowan told The Record

Now hey! As a teen myself, I resent that remark! A lot of us are very smart! (such as myself, cough cough)

[umgud]

It's surprising the kid had the presence of mind to use the technology while under duress.

And normal untrained citizens can't have a gun because of the way they might act under duress.

[Larry Lucido]

Doesn't matter. We need to ban cell phone cameras because someone, somewhere, might use one to take a picture up someone's skirt.

/sarcasm

[Grig]

Hmmmmmmmm, I think buying stock in cell phone companies might be a good move.

[spokeshave]

Or worse...use the video phone to make illicit copies of shrillaries book...........

[Sacajaweau]

Okay Is he a pervert or JUST a gay man soliciting?? OR are they the same. It all looks the same from here!!

[Consort]

TIPS

[lelio]

Kid: "He said that he wanted to have 'say gex'"
Sprint PCS guy: "That's the cellular static kid"

[Simcha7]

Modern Technology is...Amazing!

Every Kid in America should have a PhoneCam!

Then maybe the Sex-Predators would think twice about doing the UNSPEAKABLE!

The Lord was with this Teenager, and Thank GOD that it came to a positive conclusion this time.

There should Not be any threat of second, third, or forth time "Offenders", because the FIRST time anyone is put in Prison for Sexual Offences...they should be LOCKED AWAY FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES!

[archy]

"It's surprising the kid had the presence of mind to use the technology under duress," Detective Capt. Robert Rowan told The Record

Now hey! As a teen myself, I resent that remark! A lot of us are very smart! (such as myself, cough cough)

I couldn't agree more. I've had very few problems getting teenagers to understand how to use GPS position indicators and digital radios, including those with packet message and slow-scan TV capabilities, on search and rescue team exercises. It's the older operators used to generations of older equipment who are harder to retrain.

But even more interesting goodies are right around the corner, and some neat tools and toys are just down the road.

-archy-/-

[Procyon]

Liberal: How are we ever going to lower the crime rate if technology keeps making it easier to arrest and convict people for committing crimes?

[Jay D. Dyson]

Here's the photo the boy's camera captured:

[onehipdad]

That must've been one helluva sphincter moment when the guy saw the phone flashing!

[El Gato]

"It's surprising the kid had the presence of mind to use the technology under duress,"

Not to me. To a 15 year old it's no different than turning on a light. You don't have to think about that, but I'll be my grandfather did for few years. They didn't get electricity until my mother, the youngest of 4, left the farm.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Ref post #3..I'm not sure to what you are alluding. Are you saying that T. is a child molester?

[frithguild]

Never thought I would buy one of those things. I will now be shopping for my 8 year old daugter.

Thanks for the enlightening post.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

It sounds good to me. I don't have an 8 year old daughter; but if I did, I would do the same. In fact, after this article, I will go out and purchase one for myself.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

In fact, if I had an 8 year old son, if not younger, I would do the same. Children are not stupid. There are too many sickos around.

[Paul Atreides]

Let me guess: the kid was charged with a hate crime.

[Timesink]

"Can you hear me NOW, mutha^&*$%&*??!?!"

[mitchbert]

Just wait until high speed video capable wireless coverage is blanketed over entire urban areas. Trust me, it's not many years off.

This kid could be feeding live to the cop station. How's that for real time perp ID? Imagine the implications for home security. It's coming.

[OXENinFLA]

Right ON!!

Give this kid a better Camera.

[lowbridge]

MacDonald was charged with attempting to lure a juvenile into a car, criminal restraint and simple assault. If convicted, he could face up to five years in state prison. He is being held on $25,000 bail.

So in five years or less, this guy will be doing this same thing to another kid. And that kid just might not be lucky enough to get away or have a phone on him. I hope his fellow convicts get to him.

Did he have a previous criminal record?

[hasegawasama]

Kids of today are smarter and more cynical than ever. Can't blame them. The adults of today have become truly devilish.

[howdo_yu_know]

How nice to be "innocent until proven guilty"...
how do we know the kid wasn't rummaging through the guys broken into car and got CAUGHT when the owner chased him?

[howdo_yu_know]

I'm stealing your camera mister! And if you dare call the cops i will scream and yell and tell them you tried to tickle me!

[lowbridge]

how do we know the kid wasn't rummaging through the guys broken into car and got CAUGHT when the owner chased him?

Because the accused has never said so, or filed any charge against the boy.

[lowbridge]

Since Aug 2, 2003

[lowbridge]

I'm stealing your camera mister! And if you dare call the cops i will scream and yell and tell them you tried to tickle me!

Thank you, Mr. MacDonald's defense attorney.