INDIANAPOLIS (AP): Law enforcement officials in central Indiana are urging the public to pay attention to their surroundings and report suspected sex trafficking of minors ahead of the Indianapolis 500.

They say the race not only attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the region during Memorial Day weekend but, like other large sporting events, can also attract sex trafficking.

U.S. Attorney Josh Minkler said at a news conference Thursday that people are paying to have sex with children in Indianapolis. He asked residents, business owners and hotel owners to take notice of what’s going on around them and report suspicious activity.
Authorities say the average age of someone first recruited into the sex industry is 12 to 14.