When a child tells a parent or carer that they just had some lollies in a car with a man they didn’t know all sorts of fears come flooding in. This was the case for a father in Brunswick Heads a few weeks ago when his five year old son told him that after a day at the pirate park.
‘My husband was at the park with our five year old son and was also looking after another child. Our five year old went to the toilet and when he didn’t come back he went to look for him and found him.
‘Our five year old didn’t say anything immediately – it wasn’t until later that evening that he told us a man had approached him as he came out of the toilets and offered him sweets. The man told him they were in his car and took him to the car, he got in and apparently there were “lots of sweets”,’ said the child’s mother.
While nothing untoward happened in this instance and the child had some lollies in the car and was told ‘to go back to your family’ it is a clear reminder to all parents and carers to keep a vigilant eye on children in their care when you are in public places, near waterway or public toilets said detective inspector Matt Kehoe from the Tweed Byron Police District.
Police investigation
Police have taken statements from both the child and father with descriptions of the vehicle and man involved in the incident.
‘CCTV footage has been examined and the area has been canvassed but no useful information has been gained,’ said detective Kehoe.
‘The description of the male and vehicle haven’t been linked to any other matters. We believe this is an isolated incident and is not a trend in this area. It has been referred to the Tweed/Byron detectives for follow up.’
Stranger danger
While the parents of the five year old had had stranger danger conversations with their son his mother said ‘I would just remind parents to be really aware of your kids and where they are. Keep an eye out for them. And as a general person out and about don’t be scared to speak up if you see somethgin strange going on.’
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