New Westminster police and School District No. 40 administrators are warning parents and students after a suspicious run-in between a stranger and students this week.
Al Balanuik, assistant superintendent of schools, issued a letter Tuesday notifying parents about an incident the day before.
According to the letter, a middle-aged Indo-Canadian woman drove alongside a Grade 5 girl and Grade 1 boy around 3:10 p.m. Tuesday while they were walking along Salter Street. The woman rolled down the window and instructed the kids "come on, get in."
"The children did not recognize the woman, and did not go with her. Instead, they reported the incident to staff at Queen Elizabeth Elementary School," Balanuik said in the letter.
From there, Queen Elizabeth staff contacted the children's parents and New Westminster police who are now investigating.
The woman is described as having black hair that was tied up in a bun, wearing a grey sweater and light blue scarf. Police say she speaks English with no discernable accent.
Her car was an older, dark blue, four-door sedan with grey seats, black or reddish door handles, an air freshener hanging from the rearview mirror and a grey tasseled blanket in the back seat.
Balanuik said the students did exactly what is recommended when a stranger approaches on foot or in a vehicle. He said this is likely a sign that parents reviewing important safety tips with their kids including: always walk to and from school in groups, report suspicious incidents to a trusted adult, and immediately get away from a situation that feels dangerous.
"Credit where credit is due, we send home a letter but I would imagine that it's the parents and guardians talking with their children that is driving home the message and impressing upon the children the recommendations contained in the letter," he said.
He said the letters are also followed up by teachers and support staff in schools.
Balaniuk said this is the second incident this school year that has resulted in a letter home to parents, which some find disturbing, but he said the letters are a precaution and a sign that student safety is paramount for SD40.
"We put out this information not to overreact but to react appropriately to these types of situations," he said. "If we are in receipt of some information that there may be a person in a position to harm one of our students, we get that information out then."
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Det. Mike MacFarlane at 604-525-5411 and cite file No. 11-20635.
www.twitter.com/BrentRichter
