Bell Block Police are urging parents to talk to their children about the dangers of accepting rides from strangers after a teenaged girl was approached in Bell Block this morning, Tuesday 21st May 2013. The 14-year-old girl was walking to the bus stop along Parklands Avenue, near the intersection with Acacia Place when the driver, of a van or people mover, stopped and spoke to her just after 8am. Bell Block Police were alerted by the girl’s father and they searched Bell Block streets but were not able to find the vehicle or driver. Bell Block’s Constable Andrew Wong Too said it would be a timely reminder for parents to speak with their children about stranger danger. ”My advice to them would be to tell their children to decline the offer, leave the area and look for safety around other people and to contact police so that we are aware of the situation,” Mr Wong Too said. He said the girl was on her way to catch the bus to school when she was approached. ”As she was walking along Parklands Avenue a vehicle has pulled up alongside her and asked her if she wanted to get in or wanted a ride,” Mr Wong Too said. He said the teenager had done everything right. ”The girl’s correctly declined the offer and has walked away briskly and contacted her father who phoned police.” Mr Wong Too said police inquiries were continuing. ”We don’t know what his motives were at this stage or whether or not it was a case of mistaken identity. ”Mr Wong Too was not aware of any other children being approached in the same way in Bell Block. ”It’s a good community to walk and bike around.” He said drivers shouldn’t be offering rides to children for no reason. News article by the Daily News/www.stuff.co.nz
