Police are reinforcing the safety message to parents and children following an incident at South West Rocks last Tuesday.
About 8.30am a nine-year-old boy was riding his skateboard near the intersection of Mitchell and Simpson Streets in South West Rocks on his way to school.
A dark green van stopped next to him and the male driver asked the boy if he wanted
a lift.
The boy did not answer the man and continued riding, while the van followed him for a short time before driving away.
Police from the Mid-North Coast Local Area Command were contacted about the incident and have gathered descriptions of the man and his vehicle.
He is of Caucasian appearance, 55 to 60 years of age, with scruffy, unkempt grey hair and moustache. His vehicle is only described as a green van without any windows or writing on the side.
Meanwhile, the incident has prompted police to again encourage parents to reinforce the ‘Safe People, Safe Places’ messages with their children, including:
• Avoid walking on your own and instead, walk with other family members, friends or an adult you know;
• Walk near busier roads and streets, or use paths where there are lots of other people;
• 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;
• 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; and
• If you are scared, call Triple Zero (000) and tell them you are scared.
