Police are appealing for information after a girl was approached by a man on the state’s Central Coast earlier this week, NSW Police say.
The 11-year-old was walking in a laneway behind Brittania Street at Umina Beach about 4.30pm on Monday (6 June 2016), when a white van parked near her.
The male driver got out of the vehicle and approached the girl before offering her a lift home.
Police have been told when the girl declined, the man grabbed her wrist and attempted to pull her into the vehicle.
She managed to break free before running home.
Police were alerted and officers from Brisbane Water Local Area Command have been conducting extensive inquiries.
Detectives are appealing for public assistance in an attempt to identify and locate the man involved.
He’s described as being of Caucasian appearance, aged in his 30s and approximately 165cm to 168cm tall. The man was wearing a black hooded Nike jumper and black shorts.
The van is believed to be a white Hyundai iLoad.
Anyone with information that could assist police is urged to contact police.
Meanwhile, the incident has again prompted police to encourage parents to discuss the ‘Safe People, Safe Places’ messages with their children, including;
- Make sure your parents or another adult you know knows where you are at all times.
- Always walk straight home or to the place you are walking to. Walk near busier roads and streets, or use paths where there are lots of other people.
- Know where safe places are – a shop, service station, police station, library or school. If you are ever frightened, you should go to one of these places and ask them to call the police.
- Learn about safe adults you can look for and talk to if you need help – police officers, teachers at school, adults you know and trust.
- Don’t talk to people you don’t know and never get into a car with someone you don’t know. If a car stops on the side of the road and you don’t know the person inside, do not stop.
- If you are scared and can use a phone, call 000 and tell them you are scared.
- If someone tries to grab you, yell out, ‘Go away, I don’t know you’. This lets other people know you have been approached by someone you don’t know.
