Police are appealing for information that will help them identify a man who allegedly approached a teenage girl in Pottsville last week.
About 7.15am on Friday, the 13-year-old girl was walking along Overall Drive when a van drove past slowly before making a U-turn and pulling up alongside her.
Officers have been told the male driver ordered the girl to get into the van, and she ran away, hiding in bushes until she felt safe.
The teen caught a bus to school and reported the incident to school staff, who contacted police.
Officers from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command are investigating the incident and would like to speak to a man who has been described as being of either Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander or Indian/sub-continental appearance, aged in his early 40s, with a bald head and full black beard.
The vehicle has been described as an older model white van, slightly rusty, with tinted windows, and the rear window painted white.
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/.
Police 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’.