PERTH AMBOY, NJ–On Christmas Eve, authorities announced they are searching for a Woodbridge man who allegedly abducted two kids in Perth Amboy, “but later safely returned them to their home,” according to a press release.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) did not include a photo of Frank John, the 41-year-old Woodbridge resident that police are looking for, in their press release posted on the county website.

But NJ.com journalist Spencer Kent, and multiple TV reporters, were able to obtain photos of John from other sources.

If captured, John will face charges of kidnapping and theft of a motor vehicle, according to the MCPO statement.

“During the investigation it was determined that John picked up a 9-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl in Perth Amboy on December 23, 2016 at 4 p.m. to take them out for food,” read the statement.

Police were alerted shortly thereafter, when the children failed to return from school, but John allegedly returned them the following morning.

The children “were brought safely home” between 8:30 am and 9 am on December 24, according to the statement.

“John fled the scene. Police since have been searching for him,” noted the statement, which described him as “6 feet, 1 inch tall… 200 pounds [with] brown eyes and black hair.”

According to the statement, John “borrowed and failed to return… a silver Toyota Highlander with a New Jersey license plate J80-GVE.”

The case is being investigated by Perth Amboy Police Department Detective Mohammed Mohammed and MCPO Detective Oscar Ayala.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Mohammed at (723) 442-4400, or Detective Ayala at (732) 745-3600.

Editor at New Brunswick Today | 732-993-9697 | editor@newbrunswicktoday.com | Website

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.

Charlie is the founder and editor of New Brunswick Today, and the winner of the Awbrey Award for Community-Oriented Local Journalism. He is a proud Rutgers University journalism graduate, a community organizer, and a former independent candidate for mayor of New Brunswick.