Strange men approach children near SLO schools twice in 2 weeks, police warn
.jpg "Siren")
Strangers approached children near local elementary schools at least twice in two weeks, asking if they need rides to or from school, according to the San Luis Obispo Police Department.
On April 27, a white man in a white van approached a girl on Royal Way near C.L. Smith Elementary School and asked her if she needed a ride to school, police said in an Instagram post.
On May 5, a different child reported that a white man in a gold four-door sedan came up to her on Ward Street near Hawthorne Elementary School and asked her if she needed a ride home from school, police said.
According to the social media post, neither child got inside the vehicles and both immediately told adults who then called the police.
“Officers were unable to locate the vehicles and males described by the children,” police said in the Instagram post. “Patrol (officers) and detectives are consistently patrolling near our local elementary schools.”
The two incidents are not believed to be related, police said.
The San Luis Obispo Police Department urges parents to speak with their children about how to respond when a stranger approaches them. The National Crime Prevention Council has tips for parents to navigate this conversation with their children.
The department asks community members who see something suspicious to report it immediately at 911 for emergencies or 805-781-7312 for non-emergencies. Reports of strangers approaching children should be reported to 911.
This story was originally published May 9, 2023 at 8:33 AM.
