Now that New Westminster's kids are trundling back to school, police say it's time to review some safety tips when it comes to "stranger danger."
Sgt. Gary Weishaar issued a press release last week containing pointers for parents to go over with their kids to help ensure everyone makes it to and from school safely and knows what to do when they come across a stranger.
Weishaar said parents should teach their children that a stranger is someone they don't know, and that kids should never tell their names or addresses to a stranger. Taking money or candy from strangers is completely off-limits. Parents should make sure their kids understand they should never get into a car with a stranger, nor approach them if they claim they need help or want to play a game. As always, kids should travel to school in numbers along well-travelled roads. If they see something suspicious or unusual, they should tell a trusted adult immediately and in the event a stranger tries to follow or grab a young person, they should yell "I don't know you" and run away. Parents should also tell kids to never open their door to a stranger and never tell anyone on the phone or at the door that they are home alone.
New Westminster police school liaison officer will be teaching kids about stranger awareness throughout the month, Weishaar said.
Between January and June this year, Al Balanuik, assistant superintendent of the New Westminster School Board, sent seven letters home to parents notifying them about incidents of strangers approaching and possibly trying to lure young students near schools. New Westminster Police Service assigned an officer to the chain of incidents but it was never shown that they were all credible or related.
British Columbians got a renewed appreciation for the potential dangers of strange adults preying on children when three-year-old Kienan Hebert was abducted from his home in the night on Sept. 7.
Weishaar said warnings about strangers shouldn't be about stoking paranoia though.
"Educating children on stranger awareness is not about causing undue fear, but rather it is about providing young people with the skills and knowledge regarding personal safety," he said. "And as always, please contact the New Westminster Police Service to report any suspicious persons or activities."
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