(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
March 04, 2015 - 4:30 PM
WEST KELOWNA - Two incidents similar to one in Kelowna last month have led the RCMP to issue a child luring warning for the entire Central Okanagan area.
The incident happened just before noon on Tuesday, March 3, when two 15-year-old boys were walking in the area of Westlake Road and Stevens Road. The man offered them a ride and when they declined told them to get in. They ignored him and continued on their way.
RCMP would like help in identifying the man, who is described as Caucasian, aged 50 to 60 with short gray hair. His pickup truck has a red body with a white stripe from the front to rear wheel wells.
On Feb. 13 a similar incident occurred near Westlake Road and West Kelowna Road. A 10-year-old boy was walking when a man in an older, black, boxy car offered him a ride. When the boy declined the man drove away. A description was not provided, but the man was seen wearing a fedora-style hat and had a large chain around his neck.
RCMP have no reason to believe the two incidents are related to each other or the one that occurred in Kelowna on Feb. 26.
Safety tips for children:
- Travel and play in groups, regardless of your age. The popular 'buddy system' works best.
- Never accept a ride or gifts from strangers, or even someone you may know, without checking with your parents first. Keep a safe distance from strangers and cars that approach you.
- If a person tries to grab you, scream loudly, make a lot of noise, and create a disturbance (knock things over, scatter belongings, kick wildly). Shout 'Help, this person is not my parent!'
- Do not wear headphones or use portable electronic devices that can distract you from your surroundings when you are walking in the neighbourhood.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the West Kelowna RCMP at 250-768-2880, or to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, leaving a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net or by texting your tip to CRIMES (274637) ktown.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infonews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015