Fear as children targeted

TWEED police have assured locals there is no “epidemic” of child approaches after two reported incidents south of the Gold Coast in less than a week.

Tweed/Byron crime manager detective Inspector Brendon Cullen said police were investigating the approach of a 13-year-old girl on Wednesday.

It follows another incident last Friday when a man knocked on a Bilambil Heights home and spoke inappropriately to the residing child.

“We take all children approaches seriously,” Insp Cullen said. “There are people … who have a bad intentions and do these kind of things.”

Police hoped the public would help identify the alleged offenders.

“Descriptions of cars, of people and car numberplates are fantastic,” he said.

In the Murwillumbah incident, the 13-year-old girl was walking on Prince St when a rusty, red four-door sedan pulled up next to her.

The man spoke to her and offered her a lift but she ran home and reported the incident to her mother.

The man is described as having a dark complexion, aged 35-45, of medium build, with a crew cut hairstyle. He had stubble and was wearing a tattered white or cream singlet.

In Bilambil Heights around 1.40pm on October 13, a young child answered the door to find a man she did not know.

After he spoke to her inappropriately, the child ran to fetch her mother. The man left.

Police want to talk to a man in his late 30s or early 40s with an olive complexion, about 1.8m tall, with a dark beard, jetblack hair and black circles around his eyes. He spoke with an American accent.