A rather suspicious incident happened to a Frederick High School student. Cpl. Jennifer Bailey with the Frederick County Sheriff's Office said when the student was leaving school on Wednesday a truck moved towards him with a man inside. "The man extended his hand out the window with candy and motioned for him to come over." The student ignored the man and continued walking. "He was described as a light skinned black male, approximately 50 years of age, with gray hair and he was clean shaven. He was driving a white pick-up truck, and it didn't have a cap or cover over the bed," continued Bailey.
The student reported the incident to the school's resource officer.
The Sheriff's office has issued a few tips to help keep kids safe:
General Safety Tips
· Children should carry identification to include emergency contact information in an inconspicuous location in their clothing or backpack; a lamented card will last longer.
· Make sure your child knows his/her phone number and how to dial 911 for help.
· Keep up to date records on your child to include a photo, fingerprints, medical information and special characteristics like scars and birthmarks.
· Map your child’s route to and from school. If they walk unattended, occasionally walk the route with them.
· Find out if your child’s school has a call back program to let you know if your child doesn't’t arrive at school.
· Talk to your child often about stranger danger and focus on prevention methods that will assist them should they encounter a stranger or dangerous situation.
· Post emergency phone numbers at home in a visible location; fire, police, emergency contacts, doctors, work phone number, and trusted friends and relatives.
· Keep your doors and windows locked at all times, and teach your child to lock the door every time they enter the house.
Stranger Danger Tips
· Never leave your child unattended.
· Teach your child to NEVER tell anyone that they are home alone.
· Teach your child to play in groups and to use the buddy system when walking to and from neighborhood locations.
· Teach your child to stay in areas with lots of people and make sure they know the dangers of wandering off to remote or isolated locations.
· If your child is separated from you in a public place like the mall, they should wait a few minutes in the last place they saw you and call out for you. If that’s unsuccessful, teach your child to seek out a store employee, security personnel or a uniformed police officer.
· If your child has to ask a stranger for help, encourage them to remain in a public place and not to go into the stranger’s home or get into the stranger’s vehicle.
· Teach your child to maintain a safe distance from strangers.
· Let your child know it’s ok to forgo being polite if a stranger grabs them. Teach them to scream loudly and shout out specific words like "No, Stranger" or "I don’t know you". Talk through scenarios with your child and have them practice shouting out for help.
· Always report suspicious persons and activities immediately, DON’T WAIT.
