Police in Nanaimo are advising the public about several incidents of men approaching teenage females over the past few months.
Most recently, a girl, 14, was walking up Jingle Pot Road from the Nanaimo Parkway May 17 when a man in his 30s pulled up in an older model black Chevy pickup and asked the girl if she wanted a ride.
When she refused, the man got out of his truck and followed her up the road trying to convince her to come with him. The girl pulled out her cellphone and started to call an adult. She walked away and the man got back in his vehicle drove into a wooded area.
The man is Caucasian, five-foot-10 to six feet tall. He had light stubble on his face that appeared dark or possibly brown in colour and he wearing a blue and green T-shirt, blue hat, blue jeans and old white runners.
His pickup is possibly 10-20 years old. It had two doors, but also had seats in the back.
Police said there have been multiple similar incidents of men approaching girls walking home after school.
Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said police do not know what the man's intention was in the May 17 incident.
"Some people may believe they're acting with good intent, but in this day and age, one must show extreme caution when approaching young females or males that they do not know because perception will not weigh in their favour," O'Brien said. "This person may have had good intent and we would like to meet with that person to find out what was going on."
Police are advising people to be cautious when walking alone and be aware of their surroundings. Anyone who feels threatened is encouraged to make noise, run to a business or other people for help, and call police.
Anyone with information about the male on Jingle Pot Road is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.