The local RCMP is reminding parents to “reinforce the safety principles surrounding stranger danger” with their children after two reports of possible child luring near Pemberton earlier this month, according to a release.
The first report came on the evening of Sept, 4, when Pemberton RCMP got a tip about a suspicious male at the Birkenhead Lake Campground. Two children were in the camper, police said, when they noticed a man starting at them through the window. The man subsequently tried to open the locked camper doors, and was reportedly seen walking the trails and staring at the children.
He is described as Caucasian, tall, with grey hair and was wearing a brown jacket and boots at the time.
Then, on the afternoon of Sept. 8, Stl’atl’mx Tribal Police were called about a suspicious man who had reportedly attempted to lure an eight-year-old child into his vehicle in the area of the 200 block of Eagle Drive in Mount Currie.
The suspect is described as light skinned, with long white hair tied back, a white goatee, and was wearing a striped T-shirt and jeans at the time. He was also possibly driving an old pickup truck.
The Stl’atl’mx police continue to investigate.
“Police are reminding the public and their families to stay alert and vigilant,” the release said. “Report any suspicious vehicles or people of interest to your local RCMP at the time of the occurrence.”
Anyone with relevant information is asked to contact the Pemberton RCMP at 604-894-6634, or Sea to Sky Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 to remain anonymous.
Last week, police told Pique the delay in issuing the release was in part due to investigators wanting to confirm certain points before making the incidents public. Designated a bilingual detachment, the Whistler RCMP’s releases are often further delayed by having to be translated by French-speaking members working outside of the detachment.
