Crime & Safety

2 Suspicious Incidents with Dark Blue Minivan & Kids

Norwalk police are asking anyone with information about either incident or similar ones to contact them.

Two incidents involving students and someone driving a dark blue van have Norwalk police and city school officials worried enough to tell parents about them.

Here's a news release from Norwalk police:

The Norwalk Police Department Special Victims Unit is investigating the report of two suspicious occurrences involving vehicles and children walking to and from school.

On Monday afternoon, March 24, Nathan Hale Middle School Principal Joseph Rodriguez contacted the Norwalk Police Department to report an incident, which had occurred days earlier that he had just been made aware of.

Mr. Rodriguez informed the police that on Friday afternoon, March 14, a female student was approached by the driver of a dark colored minivan as she walked home.

The investigating officer interviewed the female student and learned:

  • that the driver rolled down the passenger side window and called for her to come over;
  • that she ignored his request, kept walking and the minivan drove off.

The student describes the driver as a black male in his thirties, clean- shaven, with short black hair, wearing a black shirt.

The student arrived home safely and informed her mother and stepfather of the incident but neither parent chose to report the incident to police or the school at that time.

[Norwalk police previously announced: "Late Thursday afternoon, March 13, a ten-year-old Cranbury Elementary School student and the student’s father reported that on Tuesday afternoon, March 11, a man verbally offered the student candy to get into his van after getting off the school bus in front of the Meadow Gardens Housing Complex at 49 Meadow St."]

Second incident

In a second incident, reported to police today, a female Nathan Hale student stated that she might have been followed by a dark blue minivan on Walter Avenue as she was walking to school alone this morning [Tuesday, March 25].

The student stated that the minivan was “driving slowly” prior to turning down a side street. The student was unable to provide a physical description of the driver.

It is important to note that in this case, the van did not stop or approach the student and there was no attempt by the driver to contact or speak with the student.

The Norwalk Public School system has emailed parents, advising them of these incidents.

We are asking students and parents to be vigilant, to be aware to their surroundings as they travel to and from school, and to call the police department immediately (911) should they be approached or feel threatened. Remember that there is safety in numbers; walk with other students when possible.

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact the Norwalk Police Department.

Norwalk Police Tip Line at 203-854-3111

Anonymous Internet tips can be sent to Norwalk Police website at: www.norwalkpd.com

Anonymous text tips can be submitted by typing "NPD" into the text field, followed by the message, and sending it to CRIMES (274637).



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