After two reports this week of suspicious men harassing children on their way to school, authorities are urging parents to have a conversation with their children about school safety.
In the incidents, children were either followed by a stranger or approached by someone attempting to lure them into a vehicle. Fortunately, none of the children fell for the attempts -- they either reported the encounters to an adult or managed to escape.
Former Dallas Independent School District Police Chief Craig Miller, who has seen similar situations in school years past, emphasized the importance of supervision for young children. He advised that elementary school students should never walk or bike to school alone. Instead, they should be accompanied by a parent, friend, or sibling.
Miller also recommended that children be educated about common tactics used by strangers, such as pretending to search for a lost pet or asking for help with a supposed emergency.
