Mounties in Armstrong probe reports of child luring
Police are investigating a possible child-luring case in Armstrong last month, following similar reports earlier this year.
Vernon RCMP received a report of a suspicious incident involving an 11-year-old girl in the Wolfden Terrace area of Armstrong on March 30.
The girl was walking in the area when she was approached by a man driving a white pickup truck around 4:30 p.m. She reported the driver asked if she was lost and needed a ride home.
After the girl declined, the driver pulled up beside her and again offered her a ride, asking where she lived.
The truck left the area south on Patterson Avenue after the girl met up with a friend who lives in the area, said Const. Kelly Brett.
The driver is described as a Caucasian man between 40 and 60 years old with brown hair and a tuft of hair under his chin, wearing a camouflage jacket.
The vehicle is described as an older model white pickup truck with a black stripe on the side.
In early March, police reported another possible child-luring event occurred on Feb. 27, when a man reportedly approached two children in Armstrong.
Two middle school students were walking along Otter Lake Road near the MacDonald Road intersection when a male driver offered them a ride.
The driver was described as an older Caucasian man with grey hair and sunglasses, wearing a brown jacket and blue jeans.
The truck was described as an older white Chevrolet Silverado with Z-71 on the rear passenger panel and the word Chevrolet on the rear window.
At that time, Brett said investigators were aware of recent reports of similar incidents and were “examining all of the information.”
On Thursday, Brett said police were “not able to confirm” the recent luring incident is linked to the previously reported incidents.
Anyone with information is asked to call RCMP at 250-546-3028 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous.
“It is important to have ongoing conversations with children and teens about staying safe when they are away from home,” said Brett. “RCMP are reminding parents to reinforce the basic safety principals surrounding street-proofing their children.”