Suspicious man allegedly offered children candy, took inappropriate photos

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The Calgary Police Service is warning of a suspicious man who had allegedly acted inappropriately towards a group of children at a southeast Calgary playground.

The CPS release states that the man had allegedly approached a group of four children, aged from 9 to 11, at around 3 pm on Sunday, October 28 at a playground in the proximity of St. Philip Fine Arts School on Parkland Boulevard SE.

St. Philip Fine Arts School (Google Maps)

The children say that the man asked for assistance in locating a piece of jewellery and that he would give them candy if they helped him.

The children refused the offer, according to the release, and the man then allegedly made inappropriate comments and took inappropriate photos of the young girls who were present.

The playground where the incident occurred (Google Maps)

The police were called once the children made it home to report the incident to their parents, though CPS was unable to locate the suspect.

He has been described as around 5’8″ tall, wearing plaid shorts and a grey sweater that reads “HOCKEY” in white letters, with a bald spot on his head and neck tattoos.

CPS is asking anyone with information in the incident or the suspect to contact their non-emergency number at 403-266-1234. Tips can also be left anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-8–222-8477, or online through their website.

Police included a list of tips that adults can use when speaking with their children about safety::

Teach your children who is a safe adult. Have a conversation with your child about who a stranger is, and how even people known to them could still be dangerous. It’s known that many child abductions are actually committed by people the child already knows. The important message to teach your children is to not go anywhere with anyone without first getting permission from their parents.
Use the buddy system. When children are out in the community, make sure they are always with at least one other person. Get to know your children’s friends and their parents and have contact numbers in case of an emergency.
Show your children safe places in the community. Point out safe places in your community that children can go to for help if they need it. These places could include police, fire and EMS stations, schools, community centres, businesses, or even trusted neighbours. It’s important for children to have multiple places they can go to in an emergency.
Know where your child is at all times. If your child is travelling anywhere by themselves, make sure you agree on a predetermined route before they go. If it’s somewhere they go often, they should always use the same route so you know where they’ll be. Also, always have your child text or call you when they arrive at their final destination or when they are on their way home.
Staying safe online. If you’re children use social media platforms, make sure you know who they are communicating with. It’s important to teach them that people they meet online may not always be who they say they are. If they want to meet an online friend in person, you should be involved in making the plans and be present when the meeting happens.
If an attempted abduction happens, teach your children to actively resist, shout out loud and draw attention to themselves. Make sure they know where to go for help or how to call the police.

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