Parents urged to be on the lookout for suspicious vehicle - Ulladulla

Police are urging parents and their children to be on the lookout for a suspicious vehicle seen in the Ulladulla area.

About 12pm, Tuesday 3 January 2012, a 12-year-old boy and his brother were playing in the front yard of their home in Parsons Street when a Toyota Hilux four-wheel drive stopped in the street.

Police have been told the vehicle drove past the house a number of times with the male driver watching the two boys before parking outside the home.

One of the boys went inside and alerted his parents to the matter, however, the man and the Toyota had driven off by the time they came out to investigate.

Detectives from Shoalhaven Local Area Command are conducting investigations into the suspicious activity and have conducted a canvass of nearby residents.

They are looking for a man who has only been described as having short spiky hair and driving a white Toyota Hilux four-wheel drive.

Police are also investigating reports the vehicle has been seen in the street on a number of occasions over the last two months. 

Anyone who sees the vehicle or has information about the identity and whereabouts of the male driver is urged to contact Ulladulla Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Meanwhile, police are urging parents to reinforce the ‘Safe People, Safe Places’ messages with their children, including the following safety tips:

• Avoid walking on your own and instead walk with other family members, friends or an adult you know;
• Walk near busier roads and streets, or use paths where there are lots of other people;
• Make sure your parents or another adult you know knows where you are at all times;
• Always walk straight home or to the place you are walking to;
• Know where safe places are – a shop, service station, police station, library or school. If you are ever frightened, you should go to one of these places and ask them to call the police;
• Learn about safe adults you can look for and talk to if you need help – police officers, teachers at school, adults you know and trust;
• Don’t talk to people you don’t know and never get into a car with someone you don’t know. If a car stops on the side of the road and you don’t know the person inside, do not stop; and
• If you are scared, call Triple Zero (000) and tell them you are scared.
• If a person who approaches you attempts to physically grab you, yell out 'go away, I don't know you'. This tells other people around you have been approached by someone you don't know.