Two callers to dispatch report a pair of unsupervised little girls, about age 5, going door to door in Bergen asking people for money. One call was for Clinton Street and the other for Rochester Street.
Sheriff's deputies are responding.
UPDATE 2:43 p.m.: A sheriff's deputy asks where the girls were last seen and is told southbound in the first block on Clinton Street. He says he's delayed by a train momentarily.
UPDATE 3:12 p.m.: The deputy reports "checking the entirety of the village" and not finding the girls. He is going to speak with one of the callers who requested an interview.
UPDATE 6:41 p.m.: A reader shared the following:
The two little girls rang my doorbell after two o'clock. The older girl, about 7 years old, had a white, plastic grocery bag stretched out (trick or treat style), "Will you give us some money; we're homeless?" she asked. I looked her and her companion (she was about 5) over: they were in hoodie pajamas, barefoot. Both had brown hair and brown eyes. "You're barefoot. Aren't you cold?" I asked. "No, I'm okay," she replied. So I gave her some one-dollar bills I had handy and watched to see where they went. I called 911 and looked out my windows to see if there was an adult around or a car waiting on them. Neither was in sight. Last I saw them they were on my next-door neighbor's porch ringing his doorbell.
And:
Well, here's an update. The girls with their Mom just came to my door to apologize and return the money I gave them. "We're sorry. We were trying to help our Mom. We're not homeless." I replied, "It's always good to help your Mom, and it's always good to be honest." Mom waved at me, and they left. I guess that's a happy ending. I'll never know what "helping our Mom" meant. You can use the information however you choose. I'm glad that two little girls aren't wandering around without shoes or soliciting money.
