HIGHLAND PARK – The following incident was reported to the Highland Park Police Department Dec. 9, 2015 at approximately 3 p.m.
Highland Park Police are investigating a report of a stranger who approached, but had no physical contact with three Edgewood Middle School students while they were walking home from school the afternoon of Dec. 9. Extra patrols are being added by police officers and detectives at this time. The stranger was reported to be:
- White male, 6’1″, 195
- 24-27 years old
- Wearing a blue shirt and khaki pants
- Reported driving a sedan type vehicle, silver in color.
The incident occurred on at Burton Avenue and Washington Place. This incident is under investigation by the police to determine the validity and circumstances of the incident and to gather any investigative leads of this report.
Families and children should not concentrate on the above description of the stranger or their vehicle to protect themselves. Strangers offering rides or asking for help from children can come in either sex, and any nationality or race. They may drive old or new cars, pickups , trucks or vans of any color.
Please take this opportunity to discuss with your children the precautions they should take while away from home, particularly when walking to and from school. Concentrate on the message of stranger awareness.
Following are some discussion points of safety:
- Don’t talk to strangers who try to talk to you on the way home
- If the stranger continues trying to talk to you or stops the vehicle, run home or run to the nearest public place and immediately tell an adult what has happened
- Never walk up to a car of a stranger and NEVER go with a stranger
- It is best not to walk alone, walk with a friend or a group of students
- If you have a cell phone, call 911 immediately
- Try to remember as much as you can about the stranger and the vehicle
If you have any questions or further information relating to this investigation, please contact the Police Department at 847-432-7730.
Submitted by the Highland Park Police Department
