On Tuesday, Greenwich Police warned residents to talk to their children following a suspicious incident involving two men in a white van who approached a 12-year old girl and asked her to get in the van.
(GPD Urge Parents to Speak with Children after Suspicious Incident Involving White Van Aug 23)
On Wednesday, GPD Captain Mark Zuccerella gave an update explaining that after investigation they found that no evidence of a crime could be substantiated.
Zuccerella’s statement is as follows:
The operator related when he was operating on the roadway, he needed to avoid striking another vehicle in the roadway in the area of Sound Beach Ave and Center Rd. The Detectives did locate a witness who did report hearing tires screeching at the time this incident was to have occurred. The Operator, or his passenger, didn’t see anyone one the sidewalk, let alone the young female, and spoke to no one at that time.
We still would like to remind parents to use this time to review the steps in my previous email regarding situational awareness with their children so they learn how to be safe.
Police advice to parents, given the start of school is around the corner:
- Safety is always best in numbers. Advise your child to walk to and from school or the playground with a buddy.
- If your child feels that he or she is being followed and they have a cell phone, they should immediately call 911.
- Never talk to a stranger. Strangers with bad intentions try to trick kids into helping them. Kids should never talk or answer their questions. If they do answer, it should be something along the lines of “go ask an adult” or “I do not know I am only a kid.”
- Teach your child to think on their feet. They need to keep distance from strangers and not let someone get close enough that they could grab or touch them.
- Advise them to run or walk quickly towards an area where they see people, such as a shopping center, a home with someone outside, a busy roadway, or a park where they see people. They should never walk into an alley or location that further isolates them.
- Know your child’s walking/riding path to and from school. Determine a path together that is visible, even if it’s a slightly longer route home.
- Go directly to your destination. Pay attention to where you are going. Talking or texting on your cell phone is a good way to pass the time while you’re walking, but it can distract you from noticing what’s going on around you.
- Be aware of surroundings – who is behind you and in front of you. Are there occupied cars parked along your route?
- If someone approaches you or tries to get your attention, get away immediately. Cross the street or walk the other way.