10 May 2019

Alarm as primary student followed home by vehicle

| Lachlan Roberts
Start the conversation

Police are working with St Peter and Paul Primary School staff.

Police are investigating an incident in which a primary student was followed home from school by a vehicle in Garran on Monday afternoon (6 May).

ACT Policing responded to a report of a vehicle following the student, who was riding home on his bike from St Peter and Paul Primary School in Garran.

A police spokesperson said they received a report of a vehicle that appeared to be following a child on Yamba Drive and Kitchener Street around 3:10 pm. Police said the child was safe and well and support was being offered to the child and family.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Police were meeting with staff to discuss child safety at the primary school.

Over 20 children were approached, stalked, assaulted or grabbed across the ACT and in Queanbeyan in a spate of incidents last year.

Kids were approached in Belconnen, Curtin, Garran, Yarralumla, Spence, Rivett, Macquarie and Queanbeyan over a period of seven months, which caused police to set up a dedicated taskforce to combat the issue.

They were encouraging parents, guardians and teachers to ensure children understood how to keep themselves safe, particularly when walking or riding to and from school, and to discuss stranger safety with children.

ACT Policing’s stranger safety tips, which can be found on their website, include:

  • Stay close to a grown-up and hold their hand when you are out
  • Know your name, address and phone number
  • Don’t speak to adults you don’t know
  • Don’t take toys or food from people you don’t know
  • Always stay with your parents or a friend
  • If you get lost find someone you can trust wearing a uniform like a police officer or shopkeeper
  • If a stranger makes you feel unsafe, tell a trusted adult straight away.

Anyone who has any information that could assist police can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website.

Please quote reference 6392669. Information can be provided anonymously.

Start the conversation

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.