SPOKANE, Wash. - Several school
districts in the area are taking measures to keep students safe and alert
parents of recent child luring and suspicious incidents.
The Central Valley
School District says that lately it seems like it has had more reports of
suspicious persons following students home than usual.
"Just in the last
three or four weeks there have been four cases that we can think of that have
happened, so it does feel like it's picking up," said Central Valley School District Public
Information Officer Melanie Rose.
In some cases,
students report being followed home. While in others, kids have reported someone
pulling up next to them in a car and asking if they need a ride home.
The most recent
incident in the Central Valley School District happened February
28th, near Progress Elementary along Adams, north of Broadway.
Two fifth grade girls
and one first grader were walking home after school around 3:00 p.m. when they
noticed an older, bearded man in a white car following them. The students said
the car followed them slowly and stayed with them as they walked down the
street. The girls were able to cut through a backyard and make it home, but say
the car parked in front of their house for about ten minutes before leaving.
The
school district says at least three other similar incidents were also reported
by students within the last several weeks. Each time it happens a letter is sent
home to notify parents and give suggestions on how to keep their kids safe.
