SEVERAL CHILDREN are believed to have been approached by a suspicious man at Tweed Heads earlier this week prompting local police to appeal for public assistance.
Tweed Police said they would like to speak to a man described as being aged in his 60s, of medium build, with a grey beard (two to three days growth), and grey curly, shoulder-length hair.
A 10-year-old boy was approached by the man on Tuesday, May 2 between 8am and 8.15am at Ourimbah Road, Tweed Heads.
“The man was rummaging through council waste, with his car engine running, and the passenger door open,” police said in a media statement.
“The man gestured to the boy to approach him. As the bus arrived, the man returned to his car and drove away.
The second incident occurred between 8am and 8.20am on Wednesday, May 3 where an 11-year-old girl was approached at the same location.
“She saw a man going through the junk pile, with his car engine running, and the front passenger door open,” police said.
“The man started walking beside her. As the bus arrived, she ran to board it.”
The third occurred shortly after when a 10-year-old boy was approached
“He saw a man putting something in the passenger side of his car,” police said.
“Both the passenger and driver’s doors were open, with the engine running. The man gestured to the boy to approach him, to which he declined, and walked away.”
The man was last seen wearing a red baseball cap, light yellow button up shirt, blue denim jeans with a brown belt.
Police have been told the man smelt of alcohol and cigarettes.
The man was possibly driving a black BMW sedan with partial registration number V**879 with a dent and scratch on the front passenger door.
Police are urging anyone with information in relation to this incident to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/ Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
Meanwhile, police are encouraging 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.
