A 66-year-old Mohnton man has been arrested and charged in connection with multiple reported child luring incidents in Shillington Borough and the City of Reading earlier this month, according to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office.
Robert Ruhe faces three counts of luring a child into a motor vehicle or structure, along with charges of stalking and harassment, following a joint investigation by Berks County Detectives, Shillington Police and Reading Police.
Authorities said the incidents occurred on October 14, 2026, involving several females, including juveniles, who were allegedly approached by a man driving a white SUV.
According to investigators, the first reported incident occurred around 6 p.m. near Pennsylvania Avenue and State Street in Shillington, where a 15-year-old girl was walking when a man in a white SUV stopped in the roadway and motioned for her to approach.
The girl declined and continued walking toward her home. Several minutes later, she encountered the same vehicle near the 400 block of North Wyomissing Avenue.
Police said the driver again attempted to get her attention, reportedly saying, “Hey baby, what are you doing?” He then allegedly asked whether she wanted to make money and commented that he had seen her walking alone.
The girl refused and the driver left the area. Investigators said she had contacted her father by phone out of concern for her safety and had him on speakerphone during the second encounter.
During the investigation, detectives learned of similar incidents that reportedly occurred approximately 20 to 30 minutes earlier in Reading’s Oakbrook neighborhood.
Between 5:30 and 5:45 p.m., a man operating a similar white SUV allegedly approached three additional females, including two juveniles and an adult.
In one incident, two sisters, ages 16 and 6, were taking out the trash in the 1000 block of Patton Avenue when they noticed a white SUV traveling slowly through the neighborhood.
According to detectives, the driver repeatedly called out to the children, encouraging them to approach his vehicle and offering them candy if they got inside.
The 16-year-old told her younger sister to stay away from the vehicle and called for their mother, who was nearby. The driver subsequently left the area.
As part of the investigation, detectives reviewed surveillance footage from multiple homes and locations in Shillington and Reading.
Authorities identified the vehicle as a white Acura RDX with a Pennsylvania license plate. Investigators determined that the SUV was leased by a Mohnton resident and was accessible to Ruhe.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed the vehicle repeatedly traveling through streets and alleyways near the locations of the incidents in both communities.
Berks County Detectives and members of the Reading Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit subsequently interviewed Ruhe.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Ruhe acknowledged driving the white Acura RDX in both Shillington and Reading at the times of the reported incidents. He also identified himself in surveillance footage obtained by investigators.
However, authorities said Ruhe denied speaking with any of the victims, despite acknowledging that he had driven through and stopped in the areas where the incidents occurred.
Detectives also obtained statements from the juvenile victims, including their identification of the suspect vehicle in surveillance footage.
On Thursday, October 29, authorities filed three counts of luring a child into a motor vehicle or structure, along with stalking and harassment charges. Magisterial District Judge David L. Yoch issued an arrest warrant.
Ruhe surrendered to Berks County Detectives on Friday, October 30, accompanied by his attorney. He was transported to the Berks County Sheriff’s Central Processing Center for fingerprinting and photographing.
At the time of the District Attorney’s Office announcement Friday, Ruhe was awaiting preliminary arraignment.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with information related to the incidents is encouraged to contact Berks County Detectives at 610-478-7171. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Alert Berks County at 877-373-9913, through the ALERTBERKS mobile app, or by texting “ALERTBERKS” followed by a tip to 847411.
All charges are allegations, and Ruhe is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
