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DRAPER — Draper police are investigating a report of a girl being approached by two people as she was walking home from school on Tuesday.
A girl was walking home from Draper Park Middle School, 13133 S. 1300 East, when she says two people drove up next to her "who claimed to have been sent by her mother to pick her up. After the student stated she would call her mother to confirm, the vehicle drove off," according to a statement from Draper police.
Police say they are still working to confirm additional details. But they note that there have been other "situations recently related to suspicious interactions between strangers and children that have come to the department's attention due to community discussion on social media."
The police department is asking for anyone who has direct knowledge of any of these incidents to contact them "rather than post suspicions or experiences online."
They say the incidents are also a good reminder of why parents need to talk to their children about safety.
"These concerns are coming up frequently enough that we feel it important to remind parents to have conversations with youth about being approached by strangers and how to respond," police stated.
Police say parents should remind their children to never go anywhere with someone they don't know. Pick a code word that only a child's parents would know so that the child can verify whether information is coming from them. Don't take anything from strangers. Try to avoid walking anywhere alone. And "trust your instincts. If you feel you are being followed or something is not right, seek help immediately," police said.
Children who believe they are in threatening situations are encouraged to call 911.
