Crime & Safety

Creepy Vans Rattle Families, School Offers Safety Tips

Concordia and Palisades principals warn parents to be extra vigilant about child safety.

Local elementary school officials are warning parents to reinforce their children's wariness of strangers after two suspicious incidents have rattled local families.

Both incidents involved white panel vans, but that appears to be the only similarity. Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesman Jim Amormino said the department is investigating both incidents, but they don't appear to be connected.

Tuesday afternoon, a white panel van parked near Camino Capistrano and Via Canon made a U-turn and crept along behind two elementary school students walking home, according to an email sent to parents by the Concordia and Palisades elementary school principals.

Find out what's happening in San Clementewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"There were no houses or buildings nearby," the email states. "When the boys began to be alarmed, they looked back at the van and started to run. The van sped up and drove by without further incident. The students are safe and unharmed."

On Saturday,  two 12-year-old girls were walking on the sidewalk near their residence in Laguna Niguel when they were approached by another suspicious van. The man following the girls was described as Hispanic, 50-60 years old, 5' 09", 175 pounds, wrinkles around eyes and mouth, black and gray wavy medium length hair, wearing a white T-shirt, light-colored jeans and dark brown sunglasses. Authorities said he was driving a white panel van and stopped next to the girls at a stop sign and said, “Hey ladies do you need anything?” The girls continued walking and the van drove out of view. 

Find out what's happening in San Clementewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A few minutes later, the same van stopped about five feet behind the girls, authorities said near the La Plata/Vista Plaza neighborhood. The man exited the vehicle and the girls began to run.  When they arrived home, they saw the van drive by at a high rate of speed.  The girls are safe and unharmed.

School safety officers have been notified and the school has asked for extra police patrols.

Amormino said the description of the person in the van in the Camino Capistrano incident did not match the description of the one in Laguna Niguel Saturday.

School officials offer the following tips:

  • Walk or ride bikes to school, or play, in groups of two or more whenever possible.
  • Never talk to strangers while traveling, at play, or to or from school.
  • Immediately report any problems or unusual events that happen in transit or play to a parent or member of the school staff.
  • Report to the school office for assistance anytime a student is unsure or confused about after-school arrangements.
  • Children should not get into a car or go anywhere with any person unless their parents have told them specifically that it’s OK. CUSD students may only ride home with parents or people listed on the emergency card. If you have a carpool, please inform the office to update the emergency card.
  • If someone follows your child on foot or in a car, he/she should stay away from him or her. Don’t go near the car or get inside it. Get to a crowded, well-lit place where others can help.
  • Don’t go anywhere with a stranger. Kids shouldn't respond to anyone they don’t know well even if the person asks for directions, help to look for a lost puppy, or tells them that their mother or father is in trouble and that he or she will take them to their parents.
  • If someone tries to take them somewhere, quickly get away from him or her and yell, "This man (woman) is trying to take me away!” or, “This person is not my father (or mother)!"
  • Kids should always use the buddy system. They should walk with a friend, never alone. 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.