Man Caught in Riverside Attempting to Lure Child to Him Arrested

RIVERSIDE – The man who was caught on a Riverside Food-4-Less store surveillance footage attempting to lure a small girl to him last month has been arrested. On Wednesday, February 15, 2017, the 6-year-old girl was walking toward the restroom on the store located at 3900 Chicago Avenue in the City of Riverside. The man attempted to get the girl over to him telling her he would give her a treat. He motioned her to come toward him, bear the men’s restroom.

After all leads were exhausted, the surveillance was released on Facebook attempting to get the public’s help to identify the suspect. Authorities said that soon after a public tip was made indicating that the suspect, later identified as 78-year-old Theodore Childers of Simi Valley may frequent a fitness gym located in the 4100 block of Chicago Avenue. Detectives made contact with the gym staff, showed them the surveillance and asked to contact them if he was seen at the gym.

On Thursday, March 9, 2017, shortly before 7:00 a.m., a gym employee called the police after a man matching the description came into the gym. Officers arrived and detained the man. He was transported to the police station for questioning and was subsequently booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for annoying or molesting a child.

If you have any information about this incident, please contact Detective C. Olivas at (951) 353-7136 or colivas@riversideca.gov.

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