Los Angeles Unified School District Student Safety Alert

Our children are our future and should be able to feel protected. Unfortunately, there are bad people in our communities that prey on our children. As parents and citizens, we all need to work together to keep our children safe.

Today, the Los Angeles School Police Department announced they received a report from a female student that a man was following her and bothering her from a blue van on her way to school. He kept following her and asking her to come near his vehicle. This happened several times in Wilmington near Lomita Blvd and Main Street, and on Gulf Avenue. 

The man is described as bald with a full beard and light skin, either Latino or White. He drove a blue van with tinted windows. Anyone seeing this suspect is urged not to approach him. Do not talk to the person. Please notify police and school administration as soon as possible.

Every child’s safety and education should be the communities No. 1 priority. The LAUSD will continue working with school staff, parents and the community-at-large to ensure that our students remain safe in a secure and nurturing environment.

Students are advised to be on the alert when walking to and from school and to report suspicious activity immediately, just like this child did. She is a hero for not falling prey to the suspect and reporting the incident to authorities. Her parents should be proud they trained their child to be safe and prepared. 

• Precautions should be taken when traveling to and from school such as:
• Walk in groups or pairs and alert to your surroundings.
• Do not openly display popular electronic devices such as iPhones.
• Do not approach suspicious vehicles.
• Do not talk to or accept rides from strangers.   
• Report problems to the nearest school staff member or known adult at once, and to police as soon as possible.

Since Wilmington is aware and looking for him, it would be real easy for him to move his stalking territory to Long Beach. Anyone seeing suspicious activities near schools should call 911 or the local police.

This is a wake up call for parents to have a safety conversation with their children. I publish Cuffed and Wanted newspaper, Los Angeles County's only crime specific newspaper. It's my goal to make our neighborhoods safer for our children. Pick up our paper at your corner store and like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Cuffed-and-Wanted