SAFETY: Girls have been approached by suspicious men in the Poly and Gage area.
By Hannah Lerstad, Staff Writer
On 29 April 2013 two girls were approached by a Hispanic male as they walked to Gage Middle School, according to a letter sent out by Gage Middle School’s Principal Pablo Sanchez. On 30 April 2013 a girl was approached as she walked to Poly, according to information sent out by Principal Wade Coe.
The first incident happened near the intersection of David St. and Marguerita Ave. Around 6:45 a.m. a female Gage student was approached by a Hispanic male with short curly hair and a mustache driving a black SUV. The man offered her a ride, but she ran to a friend’s house nearby.
Later that morning at around 7:08 a.m., another girl was approached near the intersection of Jane St. and Lincoln Ave. by a man of the same description driving a white two-door Toyota truck. The man tried to begin a conversation with her, but the girl called her mother on her cell phone and the man drove off.
The next day, a Poly student reported that a lone Hispanic male in a white van offered her a ride near 5th St. and Park Ave. The girl continued walking and the van left. The e-mail sent out by Principal Coe did not indicate whether the male matched the description of the man who approached the two Gage students. It is not clear whether these incidents are related.
The administrations of both Gage and Poly suggest that students walk both to and from school in pairs and not engage strangers in conversation. Also, if approached, students should scream, call for help and run to a safe location.
Gage has requested increased police presence in the area and is also asking for parent volunteers to keep watch. Gage parents can call the school office at (951) 788-7350, and Poly parents can contact the school office at (951) 788-7203.
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