PHOENIX — Parents are asked to be extra cautious with their kids in a Phoenix neighborhood near Scottsdale after two reported "stranger danger" incidents recently.
According to the Scottsdale Police Department, officers received a call on Jan. 30 from the mother of a boy who goes to Desert Shadows Middle School in Scottsdale.
The woman informed authorities that her son was sitting at a bus stop on Jan. 29 near 83rd Place and Thunderbird Road, close to their Phoenix neighborhood, when a white Honda with four men stopped and asked her son if he wanted a ride.
Police said the incident was a verbal conversation only. There was no attempted physical contact between the men and the boy, according to Scottsdale police.
In another incident last week, two men approached a student in a similar matter in what was also described as a white Honda Civic.
Desert Shadows sent the following letter to parents about the incident:
This letter is to inform you of a “stranger danger” incident that occurred in the community surrounding our schools. Out of an abundance of caution, we label incidents where a stranger makes or attempts to make contact with a student, often on a student’s walk to or from school, as “stranger danger.” We are sending this letter to raise awareness and provide our community with information. This incident has already been reported to the police department.
Today, it was reported that two Hispanic men in a white Honda Civic approached a Desert Shadows Middle School student on Friday, January 26, asking the student if they wanted a ride to school. Yesterday, a different Desert Shadows Middle School student was approached by four (4) Hispanic men in a white Honda Civic asking the student if they wanted a ride to school.
Both students made the right decision by immediately walking away. The second student advised their parents, who informed us today. Because this information is concerning to us, out of an abundance of caution, we’ve asked that our District School Safety Officer have an increased presence and awareness at our dismissal this afternoon. Phoenix Police and Scottsdale Police have been advised and have stated they will increase patrols in the area.
While we do not have evidence that this interaction would have resulted in a crime, we want to provide our community with safety-related information. Here are a few tips to help keep your child safe when walking to and from school.
Remind them to:
- be alert, and to walk with a friend or group when possible;
- not to approach a stranger’s car or accept a ride from someone
- they don’t know well;
- shout and run if someone tries to grab them; and
- report any incidents to you, their teacher, or a police
- officer as soon as they can.
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