Children from Harwood Elementary encountered a man exposing himself in his car on their way home from school last Friday.

(CHARLOTTE HELSTON / iNFOnews.ca)

RCMP are warning parents to keep an eye out for suspicious activity after a man was seen exposing himself near an elementary school in Vernon.

Last Friday, as a group of Harwood Elementary students were walking home from school, they spotted a 20-something man sitting in his car on 41 Avenue.

When they came up to the vehicle they noticed the man had his pants down and appeared to be masturbating.

The children screamed and took off home. A pair of sisters in the group fled and told their mother everything.

Around 3 p.m. the mother phoned police.

By the time officers arrived, the suspect had already split. Gord Molendyk, spokesperson for the RCMP, is encouraging parents to keep a watchful eye on their neighbourhoods, and to educate their kids on what to do in this type of situation.

"The police are asking parents to speak with their children (about) safety issues they could encounter in their neighborhoods, so they will know what to do if they see suspicious activity happen," Molendyk said. "Parents, if you walk your children to school or playgrounds, be observant to any suspicious activity in and around the neighborhood."

If possible, Molendyk says to record the plate number and vehicle description.

"If your children walk to schools or playgrounds on their own, have them walk in groups and if they encounter something strange (that) makes them feel afraid have them go home and report it to the police."

The RCMP are continuing to investigate this file and are working closely with the School District.

The young girls were able to provide a pretty detailed description of the suspect. He was described as a Caucasian male in his early 20s, approximately 5'10" tall with a thin build. He has dark brown hair, shorter on the side, longer on top and possibly gelled. It appeared his lip was pierced and his left ear pierced on the top. The suspect appeared to have a black tattoo on the inside of his right wrist.

He was wearing a red t-shirt with black, white and blue vine like design on the front, at the time the girls saw him.

The vehicle is described as a newer model 4 door sedan Silver (Grey) in color with a black leather interior, and what was described a large tail fin.

There was an "N" magnet in the middle of the trunk for a new driver. It had fancy chrome rims with red markings in the centre.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call (250)309-5230.

News from © iNFOnews, 2013