Police are appealing for information after two girls were approached by a man at Port Macquarie – one of many recent incidents.
Most worrying, said Port Macquarie’s Mid-North Coast Local Area Command Duty Officer Inspector Kim Fehon, was that this is one of a spate of reports of children being approached with intent in the past month.
In this case reported on Friday, it was revealed that at about 3pm on Thursday, February 7, two girls, aged 11 and 12, were at the intersection of Clifton Drive and Regatta Crescent, when a black Jeep stopped alongside them.
The male passenger asked the girls if they wanted a lift.
They said no and ran home and reported the incident to their parents.
Police from Port Macquarie Local Area Command have commenced an investigation.
The man has been described as being 50 to 60 years of age with grey hair and a goatee. He was wearing a black T-shirt, grey tracksuit pants and blue sunglasses.
There is no description of the driver available at this time.
In another attempted child approach, Police are appealing for information after an 11-year-old girl was approached by a man near a beach at South West Rocks at about 5.20pm on Tuesday, February 5.
The young girl was walking along a pathway from the beach towards her family car in a nearby carpark in Mitchell Street.
As she neared the carpark she was approached by a man driving a car.
The driver stopped next to the girl and wound down his window, asking if she wanted a lift and at the same time opening the passenger door.
The young girl declined and ran towards her mother in a nearby park and the man left the carpark.
He was described to police as being Caucasian appearance, about 40-50 years old, green eyes, chubby build with a long scruffy beard down to his chest. He was last seen wearing a white shirt, black zip up top and a red beanie.
The man was driving an older-model dark green sedan, either a VR or VS Holden Commodore with tinted windows.
But Police are on the chase, Insp Fehon said.
She said a man is set to appear in Port Macquarie Local Court in March after a number of children were allegedly approached in January.
Port Macquarie detect-ives had been investigating a number of incidents of a male allegedly attempting to entice young girls into a vehicle in the Laurieton and Lake Cathie areas between January 22 and 29.
As a result of inquiries, detectives arrested a 29-year-old Port Macquarie man at his residence. He was taken to Port Macquarie Police Station.
The 29-year-old was charged with incite sexual intercourse with child aged between 10 and 14, five counts of incite sexual intercourse with a child aged between 14 and 16, eight counts of stalking and two counts of offensive conduct.
He was refused bail and appeared in Port Macquarie Local Court. He was remanded in custody and will reappear on March 11.
Other alarming cases include two children being approached by a man near their home in James Grimwade Place, East Kempsey at about 1.30pm on January 20.
The five-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl were playing in a vacant lot.
Two children were also approached by a man while walking in Laurieton, near the Mid-North Coast, at about 6pm on Tuesday, January 8.
The two girls were walking along Kew Road when they saw a car parked adjacent to a block of units at the time of the incident.
And that is just in the previous month.
But Insp Fehon said there were simple steps that could help save our kids from “stranger danger”.
“Being educated at school and in the home about not talking to strangers is a priority,” she said.
Insp Fehon advised children to be encouraged to always speak up on incidents and for guardians and parents never to leave youngsters unattended
Anyone with information about this incident should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://www1.police.nsw.gov.au/
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
Be warned!
Meanwhile, the incident has again prompted police to encourage 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.
