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Saskatoon police investigating series of attempts to lure kids

Oct 24, 2014 | 7:19 AM

A Saskatoon elementary school has sent letters home with parents warning about a suspicious man after police received similar reports about attempts to lure children near parks and schools.
 
“The Saskatoon Police Service had indicated that a suspicious person has been seen near schools in a variety of areas of Saskatoon and has tried to lure students into his vehicle on a number of occasions,” the note, sent from St. Edward School in the city’s Hudson Bay Park area, reads.
 
Police confirm that over the past five months, there have been four complaints about an older Caucasian man trying to lure students into a white truck.
 
“These instances might be linked and we’re investigating that possibility, but we’re also looking at it that we don’t know if it’s the same person,” spokesperson for the Saskatoon Police Service, Kelsie Fraser, said.
 
She said more officers are now on patrol during school hours since the latest incident near Pleasant Hill School on Oct. 1. According to Fraser, two of the other complaints stem from May and July in different areas of the city, including the 1100 block of Avenue H North and 105th Street.
 
“We’ve also instructed our officers to be vigilant in checking suspicious persons in vehicles and making very detailed notes in the event that they find something suspicious,” Fraser said, adding it’s not known what methods are being used to attempt to lure kids.
 
The school letter reminds students to walk in groups, avoid talking to strangers and always tell a parent or teacher about anything that makes them feel unsafe.

bmcadam@rawlco.com

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