Police Increase Patrols Near Schools After 'Stranger Danger'

Danvers police and school officials are taking extra caution after a series of suspicious events involving “stranger danger” earlier in the week.

After an 11-year-old student was approached by a stranger in a black sedan Tuesday, school officials sent out an email message to district parents, reported the Salem News.

“In conjunction with the Danvers Police Department, we are writing to inform you that (Tuesday), one of our students was approached by a man in a black car and was offered a ride The Ipswich police reported a similar incident,” wrote Superintendent Lisa Dana in an email to parents.

Dana sent the email to parents as a precaution and to remind parents to teach their children how to be safe and how to handle strangers.

The encounter occurred after the student was dropped off by the school bus on Old Locust Street at 2:30 p.m. The black sedan, possibly a Lexus, was allegedly being driven by a white man in his 50s, Police Chief Pat Ambrose told the Salem News. Police have yet to confirm whether the stranger was genuinely offering help or had bad intentions.

Police will be increasing patrols near school areas as a response to the incident. Similar incidents, both including reports of a black sedan, took place in two other North Shore communities.

“If they see something, give the police station a call,” Ambrose told the Salem News. “Right now, we don’t want to raise any alarms. We can’t determine if it was something nefarious, or someone trying to do something nice.”

Concerned parents can call Danvers police at 978-774-1213 or their child’s school.