Police say what was thought to be attempted child abductions in Horry County was actually an attempt at a joke.

Investigators say the suspects in a van at the Farm subdivision in Carolina Forest who tried to lure children with the promise of candy turned out to be two juveniles playing a prank.

The Horry County Solicitor's Office has decided not to file any charges.

Parents and neighbors who live at The Farm say the juveniles who played the prank shouldn't be let off the hook that easily, since the incident inspired a fear in the neighborhood.

"I was terrified because I have two grandchildren and it was really frightening. I was hoping that it was just a hoax, but you just never know" said Jina Kraus, who has lived at The Farm for a year.

"I was a little disturbed that it was right here in our neighborhood. I was very glad the kids had been educated enough by their parents not to get in the van," pointed out Brenda Ishmo, who lives adjacent to where the reported attempted abduction happened.

Many neighbors NewsChannel 15 spoke with say the juveniles should be held responsible and be punished in some way.

"If they don't have some sort of consequence for their actions, then they could go out and commit the same crime they did previously," said John Jawad, who lives at The Farm and is a father of two.

"I think they should have been punished in some way shape or form," said Ishmo.

"I the kids should be told that people take this really serious, and it terrifies other people, yea sure they should be disciplined," added Kraus.

The mother of the children who reported the attempted abduction says that she will continue to press authorities to file some sort of charges, so something like this doesn't happen again.

Neighbors also tell NewsChannel 15 that a neighborhood watch unit patrols the area on a nightly basis.