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Two Parma sisters, 12 and 13 years old, made up a story about two men in a van chasing them on their way home from school Monday, police said Saturday.

(File photo)

PARMA, Ohio -- Two sisters admitted to police that they made up a story about two men chasing them as they walked home from school.

The girls, 12 and 13 years old, cooked up the story because they were late coming home from the playground at John Muir Elementary School, Parma police said.

The girls told their mother that they were walking north on West 24th Street around 7:50 p.m. Monday, when a white van pulled alongside them. The two men inside called the girls "pretty ladies" and offered them a ride, Lt. Kevin Riley told cleveland.com Thursday.

One of the men got out of the van and followed them on foot, while the van continued driving, the girls said.

The mother then called police.

The department released the description of the suspects to the media Thursday, in an attempt to find the culprits.

But the girls eventually told detectives that there were no culprits.

Investigators are considering whether to seek criminal charges against the girls in juvenile court, Riley said.

"Although these specific allegations were later shown to be false, the department would like to remind parents and families to talk with their children about personal safety when walking out in public," Riley said in a press release.

cleveland.com reporter Chanda Neely contributed to this report.

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