Local police are asking parents to be extra vigilant after a suspicious man approached a young girl at the Edmonton Garrison.
A middle-aged man approached the seven-year old girl Sunday evening around 8 p.m. at the Canex Expressmart, at the base and invited her into his van.
Capt. Derrick Forsythe, a spokesperson for the Edmonton Garrison, said the young girl did the right thing and rejected the invitation.
“She was smart enough to know to run home and tell mom and dad.”
Forsythe said the parents then called military police.
A man with a similar description had been at the Garrison’s skate park shortly before the incident.
The St. Albert RCMP put out a news release about the incident with the Garrison military police.
Cpl. Laurel Kading said there have been no similar reports in St. Albert, but given the proximity of the Garrison to the city, the release seemed prudent.
“We don’t have a co-ordinating report, but because we are working with the neighbouring agencies we thought it would be worth putting it out.”
Forsythe said the military police advised local schools about the incident and have informed parents in the community.
Kading said they don’t know what the man’s intentions actually were but it obviously raises an alarm.
“Do we know that this is anything definite? No, but it certainly concerns us.”
The man was described as Caucasian, between 40 and 55 years old and about six-feet tall. He was estimated to weigh about 180 to 190 pounds and had dark black or brown hair, but was balding.
Anyone with any information is being asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or the St. Albert RCMP at 780-458-7700.
The RCMP is also encouraging parents to remind their children about how to stay safe. The Alberta Child find website www.childfind.ab.ca has several recommended safety tips.
