Parents Warned After Man Flashes Kids, Girl Asked To Get In Van In Livonia

LIVOINA (WWJ) - Livonia police have stepped up patrols near schools after two reported incidents of "stranger danger" in the past week.

Stacy Jenkins, with Livonia Public Schools said the first happened Monday as two children who were walking from their bus stop Monday afternoon near Meadowlark and Harrison streets in the area of Lyndon and Middlebelt.

"Two Cooper Upper Elementary students got off the bus — it was after school — got off the bus and were heading home when this person approached them in this vehicle, stood up in the driver's seat and exposed himself to the children," she said.

The man in that case was described as white, in his mid-thirties, with a mustache.

In the second incident, Wednesday, a 10-year-old girl was walking home at around 4 p.m. at Melrose and Arizona streets, near Joy and Merriman, when she was asked by a man to get into a newer model dark blue minivan, possibly a Chrysler.

She refused and he then tried offering her candy.

The man was described as a white male in his 60s with gray hair and a gray beard.  He was not wearing a shirt at the time of the incident.

Jenkins said it is unusual to have two such incidents within a matter of days. In each instance, she said, the students did the right thing by running and quickly reporting the incidents to an adult.

No one was hurt.

Livonia school officials sent out letters informing parents of the reported incidents, and reminding them to review safety precautions with their children. Those include walking in groups; not engaging in conversation with strangers; running if they feel threatened or afraid; and immediately notifying the police and an adult of the incident.

Anyone with information about either of these incidents are asked to call Livonia police at 734-466-2400.