Two approaches on children by a bearded man in the one street in Kingscliff over the past few days has sparked a police investigation and warnings to parents and youngsters alike.
On Saturday at around 9.45am, a nine-year-old boy was riding his bike along Boomerang Street when a white van stopped nearby and he was allegedly approached by the male driver who tried to speak to him.
The boy rode away to a friend’s house where police were called.
About 9.20am on Thursday, a 16-year-old girl was walking along Boomerang Street when a white sedan with yellow and black number plates began to follow her.
Police have been told the girl continued to walk along Viking Street and onto Gibson Street when the male driver of the car pulled up alongside the girl and offered her a lift.
The girl declined and ran from the scene, alerting her father who contacted police.
Police are investigating whether these matters are linked.
In the boy’s incident, police would like to speak to a man described as being aged between 40 and 50 years of age, with grey hair and a grey beard. He may be travelling in a white van with black and yellow registration plates. The vehicle may have a sticker of a red bull head with horns on the rear window.
The man involved in the girl’s incident has been described as being in his late 50s, with short shaved grey hair and a full long beard. He was seen wearing sunglasses and a maroon business jacket.
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.
Meanwhile, police again urge 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.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
