Eleven Division Police are encouraging parents to have a personal safety conversation with their children as the third incident of men attempting to lure teenage girls into their vehicles took place this week.
The latest incident occurred Tuesday, Dec. 2 when a group of young girls were walking along Evelyn Crescent and men in a white truck drove up alongside them and invited the teens into their vehicle.
"The important message is, we want to alert the public about this so parents can have that conversation with their kids about not getting into a vehicle with a person they don’t know and to be aware of their surroundings," Det. Spencer McDonald told The Villager, Thursday, Dec. 4.
Police are in a difficult situation, said McDonald, because they are receiving different reports concerning the vehicle – it could be a white van or a white pick-up truck.
"The persons who are reporting (these incidents) are all young people. The descriptions are all a bit different," he said.
The men are approaching individuals and groups of girls between the ages of 15 and 17 and attempting to engage in conversation and inviting them into their vehicle.
"They never get out of their vehicle," said McDonald.
When the girls refuse, they drive off. These incidents are not attempted abductions, stressed the detective. There are no "sexual aspects" to the conversations.
"If we get a license plate number, we can go and have a conversation with the occupants," said McDonald. "We’re getting an avalanche of tips about white vehicles."
Police are advising teens to walk to school with a friend. If anything suspicious takes place, contact police immediately. Local schools are aware of the incidents and are reacting accordingly.
"A number of schools in the area have sent letters home to make students and parents aware and to reinforce safety messages that staff already regularly share with students," said Toronto District School Board spokesperson Ryan Bird.
Toronto Police Services initially issued a public safety alert late last month regarding these incidents. Police say a 13-year-old girl was walking on the south side of Annette Street near Quebec Avenue Wednesday, Nov. 19 around 8 a.m. when three men in a white cargo construction van pulled up alongside her and attempted to lure her into their van. She ran away.
The next day, another girl, 13, was standing at the bus stop at Jane Street and St. Johns Road when three men in a white cargo van pulled up in front of her and attempted to lure her into the van. She refused and the men sped away. The girl later told her parents.
One suspect is described as white, between 20 and 30 years of age with dark hair, possibly a beard and wearing a construction vest. He was sitting in the rear passenger seat. The second suspect is white, mid-20s, with short hair and wore a black jacket. He was sitting in the front passenger seat.
The third man is also in his mid-20s, white, with short dark hair and wore a beige or white winter coat. He was the driver.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-1100, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.222tips.com, text TOR and your message to CRIMES (274637), or leave a tip on Facebook. Download the free Crime Stoppers Mobile App on iTunes, Google Play or Blackberry App World.
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