Southern suburbs schools principals warn parents about two attempted abductions

THE principal of a southern suburbs school says it will look at installing gates to protect students after the attempted abduction of a young student.

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THE principal of a southern suburbs school says it will look at installing gates to protect students after the attempted abduction of a young student.

The precautionary measure comes after a girl in Reception at Seaview Downs Primary School was beckoned towards a white sedan during recess on Monday.

She was stopped by three older girls playing nearby and the car, which contained a man and a woman, sped away.

Police attended the school but do not believe incident is linked to similar attempted abductions at Morphett Vale East Primary School and Reynella East College.

Principal Des Hurst said the incident was “scary” and the first of its kind since he became principal a year ago.

He said the school grounds, which back on to Greenfield Road where the incident occurred, were open. They did not have cameras because there was no vandalism.

Mr Hurst said he had spoken to the parents of the student targeted.

He also sent home a newsletter about the importance of making students vigilant about stranger danger.

Parents outside the school this morning expressed concern about the incident and said they would sit down with their children to discuss the risks.

The incident at Seview Downs followed a similar incident last Wednesday at Morphett Vale East Primary School.

They come after a man tried to lure a Year 6 schoolgirl from Reynella East College by claiming her parents asked him to collect her.

In that incident last Monday, the man said to the girl: “Your mum told me to pick you up at 1.30pm”, to which she replied: “My parents are dead”.

On Wednesday, a man approached a child at a bus stop on States Rd, Morphett Vale, and asked her if she wanted a lift home “because it was hot”.

The girl responded by asking the man “what’s the password?” to which the man drove off.

Morphett Vale East Primary School principal Carolyn Mildrum wrote in the “red-alert notice” that police had been notified and asked parents to address safety with their children.

“Class teachers spoke to their students about these incidents prior to dismissal (on Wednesday) stressing the importance of keeping safe,” she said.

The man was described as being an older male with lots of white chest hair, a scruffy beard, wearing a white singlet top and smelling of alcohol. He was driving a white Toyota HiAce van.

A police spokeswoman saidthe incidents had been reported to police, who at this time did not believe there were any links.

“No physical contact has occurred and no criminal offences have been identified,” the spokeswoman said.

Police urge anyone who notices suspicious behaviour in the area of schools to call immediately call the police assistance line on 131 444.

Anyone with information that may assist police should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online.