Tuesday, November 16, 2004
Troy Police Crime Alert November 16, 2004
Troy Residents,
The Troy Police had a report of a suspicious man and vehicle in the area of Wass Elementary School (2340 Willard Drive) on Friday, November 12 at about 3:30 PM. A white male, described as 25 to 35 years old, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, was driving an older red midsized pickup truck, possibly a Chevrolet S-10 around the area, particularly near Patterson and Cliffside streets. The truck was weaving and driving erratically, and there was loud music playing from inside. The witnesses said it sounded like “ice cream truck music.” The man yelled from the open window of the car and appeared to be watching the children walking home from school and playing in the area. Neighbors told the officers that they have seen the truck in the area a few days before. No child has reported being approached by this person, but witnesses were suspicious of his actions and called police. Officers checked the area but could not locate the vehicle. The School District and Wass staff have been made aware of this incident and have taken appropriate precautions.
If you have any information in this incident, please call the Troy Police Department at (248) 524-3477, or call 9-1-1 if it is an emergency or the vehicle is seen approaching a child.
This is a good opportunity to speak with your children regarding Safety with Strangers, and the following tips may help you to do that.
Sergeant Robert L. Kowalski
Troy Police Department
Community Services Section
500 W. Big Beaver Rd.
Troy, Michigan 48084
248-524-3448
248-524-9023
kowalskirl@ci.troy.mi.us
Safety with Strangers
The items listed below are some suggested procedures to be used as guidelines for discussion with your children regarding “Safety with Strangers.” Troy School District staff members in cooperation with the Troy Police Department have prepared these guidelines.
1. Do not accept candy or gifts from strangers.
2. Do not accept rides with strangers or people you do not know very well.
3. Do not walk or play alone. Walk with a friend or in a group.
4. Go directly home after school.
5. Never go anywhere without telling your parents first.
6. Be cautious when approached by strangers. If a stranger stops to ask a question, you should WALK AWAY. NEVER go over to a stranger or their car, for ANY reason.
7. Tell your parents or teacher immediately about a suspicious person
8. Seek assistance if a stranger forces attention upon you. If someone is following you, run to a house where you think someone is at home and pound on the door and yell. You can also run inside a building such as a store, where there are people. Ask someone to call the police immediately. Do not run into a woods, park or shrub area.
9. If possible, get the license number of any car that is following you and tell the police immediately. They may be able to catch the car before it leaves the neighborhood. But never wait around to get the number of description of the car. RUN FIRST.
10. If you call the police, it would help them to know the following information:
a) The address where you are.
b) The license number and description or the car.
c) The description of the person.
Again, don’t wait around to get this information. Run first. When in Troy, you can reach help of any kind by calling: 248-524-3477 or 911 if it is an emergency.
Parents are requested to follow the Call-In Procedure for student absence established in each school. We also urge parents to have their children follow a designated route to and from school.
Troy School District
Troy Police Department
The Troy Police had a report of a suspicious man and vehicle in the area of Wass Elementary School (2340 Willard Drive) on Friday, November 12 at about 3:30 PM. A white male, described as 25 to 35 years old, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, was driving an older red midsized pickup truck, possibly a Chevrolet S-10 around the area, particularly near Patterson and Cliffside streets. The truck was weaving and driving erratically, and there was loud music playing from inside. The witnesses said it sounded like “ice cream truck music.” The man yelled from the open window of the car and appeared to be watching the children walking home from school and playing in the area. Neighbors told the officers that they have seen the truck in the area a few days before. No child has reported being approached by this person, but witnesses were suspicious of his actions and called police. Officers checked the area but could not locate the vehicle. The School District and Wass staff have been made aware of this incident and have taken appropriate precautions.
If you have any information in this incident, please call the Troy Police Department at (248) 524-3477, or call 9-1-1 if it is an emergency or the vehicle is seen approaching a child.
This is a good opportunity to speak with your children regarding Safety with Strangers, and the following tips may help you to do that.
Sergeant Robert L. Kowalski
Troy Police Department
Community Services Section
500 W. Big Beaver Rd.
Troy, Michigan 48084
248-524-3448
248-524-9023
kowalskirl@ci.troy.mi.us
Safety with Strangers
The items listed below are some suggested procedures to be used as guidelines for discussion with your children regarding “Safety with Strangers.” Troy School District staff members in cooperation with the Troy Police Department have prepared these guidelines.
1. Do not accept candy or gifts from strangers.
2. Do not accept rides with strangers or people you do not know very well.
3. Do not walk or play alone. Walk with a friend or in a group.
4. Go directly home after school.
5. Never go anywhere without telling your parents first.
6. Be cautious when approached by strangers. If a stranger stops to ask a question, you should WALK AWAY. NEVER go over to a stranger or their car, for ANY reason.
7. Tell your parents or teacher immediately about a suspicious person
8. Seek assistance if a stranger forces attention upon you. If someone is following you, run to a house where you think someone is at home and pound on the door and yell. You can also run inside a building such as a store, where there are people. Ask someone to call the police immediately. Do not run into a woods, park or shrub area.
9. If possible, get the license number of any car that is following you and tell the police immediately. They may be able to catch the car before it leaves the neighborhood. But never wait around to get the number of description of the car. RUN FIRST.
10. If you call the police, it would help them to know the following information:
a) The address where you are.
b) The license number and description or the car.
c) The description of the person.
Again, don’t wait around to get this information. Run first. When in Troy, you can reach help of any kind by calling: 248-524-3477 or 911 if it is an emergency.
Parents are requested to follow the Call-In Procedure for student absence established in each school. We also urge parents to have their children follow a designated route to and from school.
Troy School District
Troy Police Department
