A 10-year-old Cortlandt boy escaped a kidnapping attempt Thursday afternoon, when he refused to get into a stranger?s car on his way home from school.

Carlos Rivandeneira says he was walking home from his bus stop alone when a stranger in a minivan offered him a ride. Rivandeneira told the man he would not get in the car and continued walking. The man turned the car around and left.

Neighbors say they will stay vigilant to avoid similar situations in the future.

Police believe this was an isolated case. They recommend that children walk with friends rather than on the streets alone, and advise parents to teach their children what to do if approached by a stranger.