Kids shouldn’t accept rides
By Daily Press staff
A man tried to persuade a child to enter his car in a posh Santa Monica neighborhood Thursday.
At 1 p.m., Santa Monica police officers responded to the 1400 block of San Vicente Boulevard, where a 13-year-old boy said a man he didn’t know tried to get him into his car earlier Thursday morning.
The boy was standing on San Vicente Boulevard waiting for a bus when he was approached by the stranger, according to police.
“The juvenile saw his bus approaching and refused the offer,” said Lt. Frank Fabrega, an SMPD spokesman.
The suspect then fled east on San Vicente Boulevard, the boy told officers.
However, it wasn’t until the child returned home from school that he told his parent, who immediately called police.
The suspect is described as a white male, 40-50 years-old, about 5’8” tall, with medium build and no facial hair. He is said to be bald, with possibly a shaved head. At the time of the incident, he was wearing dark sunglasses and a dark-colored, button-down collar shirt.
The vehicle is described as a late-model, four-door, silver-colored sedan with a black leather interior.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Youth Services Division of the SMPD at (310) 458-8451.
The Santa Monica Police Department urges parents to talk to their children about strangers who offer them rides. Parents should tell their children that if anyone offers them a lift, the child should not take it.
“It’s a must,” Fabrega said. “They should tell them to never, ever accept a ride from a stranger even if they say the parent sent them. And they should tell someone immediately so they can call police.”
Children should tell their bus driver, teacher, parent or flag down a passing police officer immediately, he said.
Crime tips can be found on the Santa Monica Police Department Web site, http://santamonicapd.org, under the heading personal safety. Or residents can contact the SMPD’s community relations team at (310) 458-8474 for more information.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 17, 2003. Read the original PDF.