Faceless fear

By Melissa Meehan
POLICE are warning residents to stay alert while cautioning them to remain calm following reports of men approaching young girls and boys, offering them lifts in Pakenham and Berwick.
Detective Sergeant Phillip Jury said Pakenham police had received two reports of a man approaching two young girls on separate occasions, offering them lifts around 4pm on Wednesday 23 February.
He said the first incident occurred along Racecourse Road and Broadhurst Road, where the driver of a white van or ute with canopy mounted the footpath and asked a 15-year-old girl whether she wanted a lift. When the girl had declined his offer, the man drove off, Det Sgt Jury said.
He said the second incident took place in Henty Street, where a van pulled up beside a 17-year-old girl and the driver asked her if she wanted to get into the car. Again, when the girl declined the offer, he drove off.
“In both occasions, the girls described the driver as a male in his twenties, of Islander appearance wearing a black T-shirt and having a distinctive tattoo on his right arm,” Det Sgt Jury said.
“You would think the two would have to be linked.”
A prominent Pakenham businessman, who does not want to be identified, is the father of one of the girls approached last week.
The businessman said his daughter was walking down Henty Street in her school uniform when she was approached. She was alert to the issue because the school had issued a warning after an incident the night before, the father added.
“She did all the right things,” he said.
“They pulled over and asked her to get in the car, but she replied she was calling the police and had already keyed in 000 when they went past really slowly the first time.”
News of the frightening approaches have sent social networks into overdrive, with parents sending SMS messages warning each other of the reports and others turning to the Gazette Facebook page for more information.
Det Sgt Jury said he had heard of text messages being sent around town about other incidents, but there was no need for people to change their normal routine.
“We want residents to be cautious,” he said.
“We’re always interested in knowing about these incidents and unless we know about them we can’t investigate them.
“We need to make sure these people aren’t doing this for some sinister reason.”
He said police were increasing patrols where possible and encouraged parents to discuss stranger danger with their children.
“They need to know not to accept lifts from strangers,” he said.
“And if they are approached by anyone to take notice of things like the number plate.
“At this stage there has been no attempt to force anyone into the car, basically asked the question.”
Narre Warren police are also investigating an incident in Melville Park Drive, Berwick, at 4.10pm on Tuesday 22 February.
Police say a 13-year-old boy was approached by a black sedan, similar to a Holden VT Commodore.
The driver was described as between 25-30 year old, thin, of Caucasian appearance with a crew cut or buzz cut, wearing black tops, jeans and sunglasses.
As late as last night, the Gazette was contacted by a 22-year-old woman who said she, too, had been approached by a man in a white “Landrover type” car with no interior asking her to help find his dog. She described him as an old man with long facial hair.
Anyone with information on the mentioned incidents or others should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.