Man waits for 16-year-old school student outside Somerton Park home in possible abduction attempt
A FATHER is warning residents in Adelaide’s south-west to be vigilant about strangers after a middle-aged man waited for his daughter at the end of their driveway as she left early for school.
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A FATHER is warning southern-suburbs residents to be vigilant about strangers after a middle-aged man waited for his daughter at the end of their driveway as she left early for school.
The man, who asked not to be identified, said his 16-year-old daughter was leaving early for school on Monday when a short-haired man aged in his 40s stopped and waited for her outside their Eaton Rd home.
“As she started shutting the door she saw a car slowly driving up the road and stop in front of the house,” he said.
“He stopped in front of our driveway, got out, and was waiting for her to get to the end of the driveway.”
The father said he wanted to warn other parents and children to be careful, particularly after a similar attempted abduction incidents in Reynella East and Morphett Vale earlier this month.
It comes as police warn of a similar incident at Kilkenny just after 3pm Tuesday, where a girl walking along Downer St was approached by a man of Indian Sub-continental appearance who stopped and spoke to her before driving off.
The man was wearing a grey shirt and driving a red sedan who stopped and spoke to her.
The Somerton Park father said his daughter, who was dressed in her school uniform, then snapped a photo of the man using the app Snapchat on her phone, which had not turned out because it was still dark at 6.30am.
“The guy saw this and got back in the car.”
He said the man had driven off and stuck his middle finger up at the teenager as he left. She waited, before continuing on to catch a bus to school.
His daughter believed the stranger was driving a dark red Mazda SUV and had recognised the car because a friend’s mum drove a similar vehicle.
The father said the incident was reported to police on Tuesday night after his daughter alerted him to the incident
“It’s freaked me out. Last night I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t stop thinking about what could have happened,” he said.
“She’s fine. I think it’s only just hit her when she spoke to us about it.
“If she carried on walking I don’t know what could have happened. I wouldn’t have known if anything had happened until she didn’t arrive home for dinner later that night.”
He said he would now be dropping his daughter off to the bus stop to ensure she arrived safely at school and urged other parents to warn their children about strangers.
“I want people to know about it,” he said.
“I want people to know to be careful and be on the lookout for the man, or his car.”
Police confirmed they were investigating the Somerton Park incident and appealed for anyone who saw a red or burgundy Mazda 4WD acting suspiciously in the area to come forward.
“All students have the right to be and feel safe and it is important, no matter what age or circumstances, that students and parents discuss strategies to stay safe,” a spokesman said.
Police do not believe the incident was linked to other attempted abductions in the southern suburbs over the past few weeks.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online here.