Nanaimo RCMP have issued an advisory about a reported attempt to grab an eight-year-old girl as she rode her bike home from school on Tuesday.
The girl was not injured and the suspect male was not located, said Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien.
Nanaimo RCMP said the man is described as white with a dark beard, dark hair and sunglasses.
The child could not guess the age of the man, nor describe the make, model or age of the truck, other than to say it was a red pickup with a white stripe.
The girl reported that she was riding east on Bradley Street at Wall Street in central Nanaimo at about 3 p.m. on Tuesday when she saw a man standing beside her.
The stranger asked if she wanted to see something in his truck, she told police. She said he tried to grab her.
The girl told police she was able to kick at the man, get back on her bike, and continue cycling a fair distance home.
“The young lady did everything she needed to do to remove herself from a dangerous situation and should be proud of her actions,” said O’Brien.
Police tell children if grabbed to yell and scream, make noise and bite or scratch, whatever helps.
The girl immediately told her mother about the incident, and she called police.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345. To make an anonymous report, contact Crime Stoppers at nanaimocrimestoppers.com or call 1-800-222-8477.
