Street safety tips following a report of potential child luring

Golden-Field

2022-03-13 21:31 PDT

File # 2022-619

The Golden RCMP is sharing street safety tips following a report that a young girl was approached by an older man in a vehicle, asking if she wanted a ride.

On March 10, 2022, around 3 p.m., a young girl was walking away from school on the 700 block of 11th Street South in Golden, BC, when she was approached by a middle-aged Caucasian man in a dark-coloured sedan with an unknown licence plate.

The man slowed down and asked the girl if he could give her a ride, to which she replied no, walked away, and immediately went to tell an adult she knew. This adult told the girl’s parents, who then advised police and the local schools about the incident.

The young girl demonstrated excellent street smarts by telling the man no, said Constable Brandon Churchill with the Golden RCMP detachment. It is important to have ongoing conversations with children and teens about staying safe when they are away from home.

Here are several tips to get the conversation started:

• It’s okay to say NO to adults who ask you to do something for them, such as: help them find a lost pet, join them in an activity or game, or give them directions.
• Avoid long conversations with strangers. If someone you do not know asks you personal questions, such as: Where do you live? DO NOT answer! Run away or leave the situation immediately.
• Never walk with or accept a ride, money or gifts from strangers or even someone you may know, without checking with your parents first.
• Keep a safe distance (two arm lengths) from strangers and cars that approach you.
• If a person tries to grab you - scream loudly, make a lot of noise, and try to create a disturbance (e.g. knock things over, scatter belongings, kick wildly). Shout, Help, this person is not my parent! Run to a safe location like an open store, and look for someone with a nametag.
• If a vehicle is involved, try to take notes describing the suspicious vehicle, license plate, and the stranger’s description. Call 9-1-1 or a trusted adult for help.
• Reduce the use of headphones or use of electronic devices that can distract you from your surroundings when you are walking alone.

For more tips, visit BC RCMP Safety Tips for Children and Youth

Released by

Cst. Kat Robinson

Email: katherine.robinson@rcmp-grc.gc.ca

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