Boys & a girl asked to get in a truck

Penticton RCMP responded on Sunday at 12:12 p.m.  to a report of suspicious persons on Hatfield Avenue near Columbia Elementary School in Penticton.

Two 10-year-old neighbourhood boys spending the morning tobogganing on the slopes of the Columbia schoolyard, saw an older model brown Ford pickup circle around the area.

When the boys came up the slope and onto the sidewalk, they noted the truck drive by them and then stop. A white male got out of the truck and approached the boys and told them to “get in the car."

Both boys ran off into a nearby alley and when they looked back they noted the male was getting back into the truck and drove off eastbound on Hatfield Avenue.

The boys ran home and told their parents who subsequently called the Penticton RCMP. Patrols were made of the area , however the suspects and vehicle were not located.

The male is described as younger looking with spiky brown hair with gel in it, skinny build and about average height 5”8” to 6’0” and wearing a black jacket and possibly jeans. The female in the truck was described as older with black shoulder length hair.

The truck was a older brown Ford pickup with FORD written across the back in white lettering and no canopy on the back.

This incident follows another on Dec. 20, 2012 on Jermyn Avenue near the KVR Middle School in which a 13-year old girl was offered a ride to school by two unidentified persons. They were described as a male and female in their 20’s driving a grey coloured pickup.

The female declined the ride and the couple drove off. It is not known if the two incidents are related, however the Penticton RCMP are requesting anyone with any information to contact them at 250-492-4300.

Penticton RCMP also want to remind youth to not accept rides or anything else offered by strangers and to report same as soon as possible to their parents, school authorities or the police.

The local school district has been advised and the RCMP continue to investigate the incidents.