Possible Child Predator in the Neighborhood?

Patch was contacted late Monday night by a concerned parent who stated that a friend of hers with a daughter in 6th grade at Culver City Middle School was leaving school with another girl on Monday afternoon. As they walked away from the school a man in a black car pulled up and asked them if they'd like some chocolate.

The man apparently attempted to get their attention near the crossing guard station, but the girls ignored him and called their parents. The police were called to the scene, but apparently the girls did not get many details of his physical description, beyond his being African American, and there was little to go on.

Culver City Police Department Sgt. Aubrey Kellum told Patch the guardian of an 11-year-old girl contacted CCPD at approximately 3 p.m. on Monday afternoon.

"Apparently an 11-year-old told their parent that there was a male in a black car who had been offering children candy," Sgt. Kellum confirmed.

Sgt. Kellum said officers went to the scene but the person who called the station and the 11-year-old were no longer there. After speaking with other children on the scene, the officers approached a man in a grey car in the area but he did not match the description officers had been given.

Sgt. Kellum said the information has been forwarded to CCPD detectives.

Did you or your children see or hear anything? Do you know any other children who have been approached by someone offering candy? Tell us in the comments.

Editor’s note: The following is a list of Child Safety tips from the National Center of Exploited and Missing Children

What are the most important things parents should tell children about safety?

1. Always check first with a parent, guardian, or trusted adult before going anywhere, accepting anything, or getting into a car with anyone.
2. Do not go out alone. Always take a friend with when going places or playing outside.
3. Say no if someone tries to touch you, or treats you in a way that makes you feel sad, scared, or confused. Get out of the situation as quickly as possible.
4. Tell a parent, guardian, or trusted adult if you feel sad, scared, or confused.
5. There will always be someone to help you, and you have the right to be safe.

What should a parent know when talking to a child about safety?

1. Don’t forget your older children. Children aged 11 to17 are equally at risk to victimization. At the same time you are giving your older children more freedom, make sure they understand important safety rules as well.
2. Speak to your children in a manner that is calm and reassuring. Children do not need to be frightened to get the point across. In fact, fear can thwart the safety message, because fear can be paralyzing to a child.
3. Speak openly. Children will be less likely to come to you about issues enshrouded in secrecy. If they feel that you are comfortable discussing the subject at hand, they may be more forthcoming.
4. Do not teach “stranger danger.” Children do not have the same understanding of “strangers” as adults; the concept is difficult for them to grasp. And, based on what we know about those who harm children, people known to children and/or their families actually present greater danger to children than do “strangers.”
5. Practice what you preach. You may think your children understand your message, but until they can incorporate it into their daily lives, it may not be clearly understood. Find opportunities to practice “what if” scenarios.
6. Teach your children that safety is more important than manners. In other words, it is more important for children to get themselves out of a dangerous situation than it is to be polite. They also need to know that it is okay to tell you what happened, and they won’t be tattletales.

Parents should choose opportunities or “teachable” moments to reinforce safety skills. If an incident occurs in your community and your child asks you about it, speak frankly but with reassurance. Explain to your children that you want to discuss the safety rules with them, so that they will know what to do if they are ever confronted with a potentially dangerous situation. Make sure you have “safety nets” in place, so that your children know there is always someone who can help them.

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