Suspicions Ruled out in Latest Suspect Van Report

In the wake of recent reports of a suspicious man in a blue van approaching children, a Norwalk parent told police Wednesday about a blue van that seemed suspicious.

But when police questioned the driver, he was able to answer their questions -- he was simply driving home near a school bus, Norwalk police said.

But police still encourage parents, children and anyone else to pay attention to any blue vans or people that seem suspicious, and to tell police, who will look into the reports.

Here is the Norwalk police description of Wednesday's incident, from a news release:

On Wednesday evening, March 25, a concerned Silvermine Elementary School parent reported that she had observed a blue van traveling behind her son’s school bus as it dropped off children Wednesday afternoon.

She further stated that the school bus driver had also noticed the blue van and told the students, including her son, that she felt the van was following the bus.

The concerned parent was able to provide the initial officer with a photograph that she took of the van’s license plate. Neither the school bus driver nor the school bus company contacted police to report the vehicle.

Both the initial patrol officer and a detective assigned to the Special Victim’s Unit conducted follow up investigations, gathering additional information and speaking with other parties.

On Thursday evening, March 26, the detective was able to locate and speak directly with the driver of the blue van and determine that the driver, a white male in his late 50’s, was much older, and did not match the physical description of the driver in any of the previously reported incidents.

The detective learned that the man, who lives in the Silvermine section of Norwalk, was merely on his way home and traveling the same road as the school bus.

The detective reported that the man was cooperative and has had no previous contact with police. The detective concluded that this driver was not involved with any of the previously reported incidents.

Tips on how to help police with information

The Norwalk Police Department encourages students, parents, school bus drivers as well as school officials and staff to immediately report (911) any suspicious vehicles or activity.

We ask students and parents to be vigilant, being aware of their surroundings as they travel to and from school.

We remind students and parents that after assuring your physical safety, that the best way to help is being a good witness. Observe any vehicle involved, noting the vehicle’s make, model, color, license plate and distinguishing features.

Also, observe any people involved, noting sex, age, race, clothing description, distinguishing marks and speech patterns.

Making notes immediately afterwards or even taking a photo, if possible, will greatly assist investigating officers.

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

Ways to contact Norwalk police

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).

Background

Here are recent Norwalk Patch articles on previous incidents:

• 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."

• Two other reports: On March 14 a female student was approached by the driver of a dark colored minivan as she walked home. In a second incident 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 on Tuesday, March 25.