Alarm after boy approached

North Shore schools and community on edge after van driver offers 11-year-old a ride

An Auckland schoolboy was approached by an unknown man in a white van on Wednesday, in what is suspected to be an attempted abduction.

A warning has gone out to all schools in the Northcote area of Auckland’s North Shore following the incident — the second known incident in the past few weeks.

The 11-year-old boy was walking to Northcote Intermediate School on a busy commuter route on Wednesday morning when a stranger in a white van asked him if he wanted a ride.

The boy declined and continued walking along Lake Rd, later telling his parents who informed his school.

The incident had raised concerns, Northcote Intermediate School principal Ben Kelsey said, as it took place close to Northcote Primary school, where students were approached in similar circumstances last month.

In that incident, a child riding a bike to school was also approached by a stranger in a van. The child’s parents were close behind and “saw the whole thing unfold”, Kelsey said.

However, it was “probably drawing a bit of a long bow” to suggest the two incidents were carried out by the same person, Kelsey said.

Police and the school community have been informed of the incidents, with an email being sent to parents, and local primary schools were also informed.

Police are expected to visit the schools to reiterate messages about suspicious approaches, Kelsey said.

The school would ensure pupils knew they could talk to staff if something happened, he said.

“It’s making sure the kids . . . feel happy to come and talk to staff, make sure they’re able to talk to their parents,” he said.

“And make sure they report

It is concerning, but I feel comfortable with our kids knowing what to do. Ben Kelsey, principal, Northcote Intermediate School

it, because if we don’t know about it we can’t do anything, and we can’t make the rest of the community aware.”

He added: “It is concerning, but I feel comfortable with our kids knowing what to do.”

The Northcote Intermediate boy was approached on Lake Rd close to the tennis club and primary school. A man in a white van asked him if he wanted a ride, Kelsey said.

He did not have a clear description of the man.

It was not known whether there was any CCTV footage of the incident, but it took place on a busy road during peak times.

North Shore acting prevention manager senior sergeant Scott Cunningham said police were investigating the incident.

“An 11-year-old boy has been walking to school on Lake Rd, Northcote, when he has been approached by a male in a van who asked him if he wanted a ride to school,” he said in a statement.

“The boy has declined and the van has driven off.”

The van was described by the boy as white, possibly with a flat roof.

Anyone with information is asked to contact North Shore Policing Centre on 09 477 5004.

Last November, an 11-year-old boy was abducted and sexually assaulted in Ranui, West Auckland, as he walked home from school.

Police have yet to identify the abductor, described as a man in a grey van.

A Givealittle page set up to raise money for the boy and his family has so far raised almost $14,000.