Police Investigating Unexplained Approaches to Children

Rodney Police are investigating two unexplained approaches to children which have recently occurred in the Red Beach area.

On Wednesday 17 October 2012 at around 3.00pm a nine year old girl was approached and offered a “lift” by an unknown male in a motor vehicle. This incident took place outside Red Beach School which is located on Bay Vista Drive. The girl declined and returned to the school grounds whereupon school management and police were duly notified.

On Thursday 18 October 2012 at about 8.30am two 13 year old girls were approached on Moffatt Road, Red Beach, by an unknown male in a vehicle. This male offered to give the two girls a ride as he was “going in the same direction as them.” Both girls declined and the parents and police were duly notified.

`In both cases the male has been described as aged in his 40’s with wavy hair. However the description of the type of vehicle driven differs in the two incidents.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brett Batty of the Rodney CIB says enquiries are now underway to establish any links between these two incidents, and to ascertain the intent of the male involved.

“The motives of the person or persons involved may well be innocent, but it is timely to remind people that these sorts of offers, though done with the best of intentions can often be misconstrued. We are keeping an open mind on these events.”

“On a positive note in both cases, the offers of a ride from a stranger were firmly rejected, and subsequently the appropriate parties were notified in a timely way.”

“Police spend a considerable amount of time in our schools teaching children how to keep safe. In this case I am glad to say that these lessons have resonated and have been acted upon,” Detective Senior Sergeant Brett Batty said.

Meanwhile enquires into the incident reported in Greenhithe on Monday continue. North Shore Police have yet to determine the intentions of the male who had contact with a five year old boy.

Police are following positive lines of enquiry in relation to this incident. Both Rodney and North Shore Police will not be making any further immediate comment to the media on these incidents.