The Nanaimo RCMP has issued a warning to the public after two incidents in the past two weeks where an older man followed a nine-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy in the area of Frank Ney Elementary school.

Mounties say there was no attempt to touch or communicate with either child.

The most recent incident occurred on Friday Jan. 24 at 12:30 p.m.

The young girl told police she was followed by a man as she walked across the soccer fields at Harry Whipper park. She told her parents she saw the man walking on the soccer fields and when she picked up her pace, so did he. The man was never closer than 50 meters to her and did not communicate with her at anytime. When she got to Renee Place, the man was gone. He is described as being in his 60’s, 5 ft 9 with short grey hair, wearing a grey t-shirt and blue jeans.

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This incident follows a similar report on Friday Jan. 10 involving a 12 year old boy.

The boy said at approximately 8:15 a.m., he was on his scooter and was taking the path that connects Entwhistle Drive to Frank Ney Elementary, when he was followed by a man of similar description. The man got out of a white truck with a “wooden fence style box”. The boy described the man as being in his 60’s, with grey hair, a moustache, wearing a toque, dark jeans and a black and grey checkered jacket. Again, police say no contact was made and nothing was communicated to the boy.

“This may be an individual residing in the area out for a walk or there may be something to it. Nevertheless, an investigator has been assigned to look into both occurrences,” said Constable Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP.

Police are asking if the public knows who this man is, to contact the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-847.

In the interim, police say parents should be a little more cautious and keep an eye on their children while walking to and home from school. The inherent risks of stranger contact should also be discussed.