The Comox Valley RCMP is reminding all residents to talk to children in their care about strangers after receiving reports of a “suspicious” incident involving two men and a white van.
The reminder stems from an incident on Sept. 22 when a suspicious white van drove slowly around in Comox on Denman Street, Cortez Street, and Dogwood Street in the early afternoon.
The next day, a woman reported the incident, telling police that she was out with her two children when they were approached by two different men associated with a white van with chrome bumpers. The men reportedly tried to engage her children in conversation and were asking them personal questions.
The driver of the van was described to police as a South Asian man with a goatee, clean-cut hair, average height. The other man was described to police as a South Asian man, slender build, also with a clean-cut haircut but clean-shaven, smoking a cigarette, wearing aviator glasses.
“It is important to report these suspicious activities to police right away. If suspicious activity is not reported, we cannot be expected to know about it, to respond to it, or to warn residents,” said Const. Monika Terragni with Comox Valley RCMP.
Const. Terragni says the best thing to do is to contact the Comox Valley RCMP to make an official report. Officers do not monitor social media for reports, as there is no way to verify events.
“When someone calls police and makes a report, we will conduct an investigation that lends to the credibility of the report and potentially identifies safety concerns within our community” she added.
The Comox Valley RCMP says this situation is a reminder for parents to reinforce basic safety principles with their children. For more information on educating children about what to do when approached by a stranger, there is an information page on the BC RCMP website.
The Comox Valley RCMP is asking children and parents to report any suspicious activities immediately. Anyone with information is asked to please contact the Comox Valley RCMP at (250) 338-1321. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Comox Valley Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or online at comoxvalleycrimestoppers.bc.ca.
READ MORE: VicPD warning public after significant rise in break-ins to parkades, garages
Rebecca Lawrence
