Reminder to Watch Your Surroundings
Published: 04/29/2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2019
CONTACT:
Officer Ryan J. Railsback
Public Information Officer
Community Services Bureau
(951) 373-6032 (Media Contact)
REMINDER TO WATCH YOUR SURROUNDINGS
RIVERSIDE, CA – The Riverside Police Department would like to remind our parents and students to be aware of your surroundings while walking or biking to and from school. Recently, there have been a couple of instances where a student was approached by a suspicious person in a vehicle offering a ride while on the way to school. One encounter occurred in the Home Gardens area and is being investigated by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, and the other occurred on Friday, April 26, 2019, near Tyler Street and Hole Avenue, and is being investigated by our West Neighborhood Policing Center. It is unclear at this time if these two incidents are related.
The suspect from Friday’s incident in Riverside was described as a Hispanic male adult who was between the ages of 35 to 40 years old, 5’7” tall, about 200 pounds, and seen driving a tan or gold 2-door pickup truck, possibly a Toyota.
When walking or riding your bike to school, it is always safer to do so in pairs or groups. Younger children should always be accompanied by their parent or older sibling, which can make for a nice way to spend time together. Parents, help your child pick a safe route to and from school and remind them to stick to it and not take shortcuts that can be less safe. Children, do not talk with strangers and NEVER take rides from people not arranged by the parents.
The Riverside Police Department, the school districts, and our Riverside community considers any suspicious encounters with our youth serious and want everyone to remember that if you see something, say something. If any child or teen experiences a suspicious encounter before or after school, please make sure to notify your school staff, but also the Riverside Police Department at (951) 354-2007. To learn more about child safety rules or what is considered suspicious, visit our website at https://www.riversideca.gov/RPD/community/brochures/default.asp.
