Area police have been warning of a suspicious white van after a number of incidents were reported. In at least two incidents involving a white van in different towns, different drivers were described. In one instance a middle school-aged girl was reportedly followed home.
Ridgefield Police recently circulated a press release about the incidents.
“Over the past few weeks, other area police departments have received complaints that school-age children have sighted a white male driving a white van who has acted in a suspicious manner,” the release said.
In Bethel on March 3 around 4:15 p.m. on Putnam Park Road a middle-school-age girl got off the bus and was approached by a white man in his 30s driving a white van, possibly a Ford Econoline type van, who exited his van and followed her. When she ran to her house, the man left in the van.
In Norwalk on March 11, a 10-year-old girl in South Norwalk got off the school bus and was approached by a white man in his 30s or 40s who was driving a white van and asked if she wanted candy and tried to have her get into the van.
In Norwalk on March 17, around 4:15 p.m., a 53-year-old man was encountered parked near West Rocks Middle School sitting in a white van near where boys were playing basketball.
In Redding on March 18, around 8:30 a.m. on Church Hill Road a middle-school-age girl was waiting for the bus when a white man in his 20s drove by in a dirty-looking white commercial van and slowed down, rolled down the window and made eye contact with her. Nothing was spoken.
At this time none of these incidents have been determined to be related, and the motive for each remains unknown. Any type of suspicious activity should be reported to the police department for investigation.
Police Chief John Roche has been in contact with Schools Superintendent Deborah Low about the incidents.