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STRANGER DANGER: Vigilance asked
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Authorities and the St. David School District are worried for students' safety after three separate incidents of an unidentified man trying to coax teenage boys into his car.
The most recent report came on Sept. 30 when a man driving a silver minivan or Jeep approached a male student in the school parking lot.
The student, who was riding his bike at the time, reported to authorities that the man, who is described as having long white hair, in his 50s and slender, told him to get into the vehicle.
Cochise County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Carol Capas, said there had been two similar reports in July and September. She said each time, the man matching the description and vehicle, approached young teenage males, attempting to get them into his car.
St. David School Principal Mark Goodman said while they do not want to alarm parents, they are taking these reports extremely seriously, noting a notice was sent last week via an "Alter Now" system in which parents were notified by telephone message.
In the message, school officials said with the student being approached on Sept. 30, it is important for all parents to speak to their children about stranger danger. They should never get into a stranger's vehicle and, if approached, should report it immediately.
The message asked parents to be vigilant and to copy the license plate and report it to authorities should they encounter the minivan.
Goodman said administrators and teachers are continually talking to students of all ages about how and what to report about suspicious activities, noting each incident during or right after school.
The first two incidents took place on the weekend, and last week's occurred around 5:20 p.m., well after school was out.
Goodman said the school has asked bus drivers to be on alert, and coaches are being asked to keep watch, and stay with athletes until they are picked up by a parent.
"We don't feel the students are in danger during school hours," Goodman said. "We want to make sure parents are aware of the issue so that they can speak to their children. We are not trying to scare anyone."
Administrators have stressed to students that the culprit may attempt a ruse like asking for help or asking for help to find a lost dog. Goodman said students tend to be trusting and want to be helpful, but they are being educated to be wary of any strangers at this time.
Authorities and the St. David School District are worried for students' safety after three separate incidents of an unidentified man trying to coax teenage boys into his car.
The most recent report came on Sept. 30 when a man driving a silver minivan or Jeep approached a male student in the school parking lot.
The student, who was riding his bike at the time, reported to authorities that the man, who is described as having long white hair, in his 50s and slender, told him to get into the vehicle.
Cochise County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Carol Capas, said there had been two similar reports in July and September. She said each time, the man matching the description and vehicle, approached young teenage males, attempting to get them into his car.
St. David School Principal Mark Goodman said while they do not want to alarm parents, they are taking these reports extremely seriously, noting a notice was sent last week via an "Alter Now" system in which parents were notified by telephone message.
In the message, school officials said with the student being approached on Sept. 30, it is important for all parents to speak to their children about stranger danger. They should never get into a stranger's vehicle and, if approached, should report it immediately.
The message asked parents to be vigilant and to copy the license plate and report it to authorities should they encounter the minivan.
Goodman said administrators and teachers are continually talking to students of all ages about how and what to report about suspicious activities, noting each incident during or right after school.
The first two incidents took place on the weekend, and last week's occurred around 5:20 p.m., well after school was out.
Goodman said the school has asked bus drivers to be on alert, and coaches are being asked to keep watch, and stay with athletes until they are picked up by a parent.
"We don't feel the students are in danger during school hours," Goodman said. "We want to make sure parents are aware of the issue so that they can speak to their children. We are not trying to scare anyone."
Administrators have stressed to students that the culprit may attempt a ruse like asking for help or asking for help to find a lost dog. Goodman said students tend to be trusting and want to be helpful, but they are being educated to be wary of any strangers at this time.
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