GIRARD Incidents involving strangers prompt reminder from police

Strangers tried to pick up two 15-year-old juveniles in separate incidents.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Police are reminding parents to report any suspicious activity involving kids to authorities in the wake of two incidents in which adult strangers attempted to pick up juveniles.
Police Chief Frank Bigowsky said an adult male attempted to pick up a teenage boy Friday, and another man tried to pick up a teenage girl Tuesday morning. In both cases, the adults were unfamiliar to the teens.
According to police reports, a 15-year-old Girard High School girl was standing at North Ward and Broadway streets about 8:10 a.m. when a man driving a full-size van asked if she "wanted to have some fun." Reports say the girl shook her head no, and the man made a vulgar comment and drove away.
The girl, police reports said, went on to school and reported the incident to school authorities, who then called police.
Reports say a man attempted to entice a 15-year-old city boy into his car Friday. According to police reports, the boy was walking on Church Hill Road when a man driving an orange and red sports car stopped the boy and asked if he wanted a ride.
Reports say the boy refused, and the man turned around in a nearby parking lot and drove away.
Police are investigating both incidents. The girl approached Tuesday will be shown photographs in an attempt to identify the man who stopped her.
Likely unrelated
Bigowsky said police do not believe the two situations are related because different vehicles were used, and the juveniles gave different descriptions of the men involved. Still, he said, parents should be reminded to be cautious and report any suspicious activity involving minors to police -- even those things that may seem insignificant, he said.
"If it is a big enough incident for kids to come home and report it to their parents, then it is a big enough incident to call us," he said.
Bigowsky said it is important that kids remember not to get in a car with any stranger and to report any attempts to adults -- much like the teens approached here recently. He said police have been in the schools talking to kids about such situations.
"I give credit to the kids. Most of these kids are pretty smart and know to stay away from strangers," he said.
jgoodwin@vindy.com