Police on Sydney's northern beaches are appealing for information after reports of a man trying to lure children into his vehicle. The first report came last Thursday when, just before 5pm, a man approached and attempted to speak with a child at an oval in Manly Vale. Warnings shared among parents said the man approached a child in the car park at David Thomas Reserve and told the boy that his mum and dad had asked him to get into the car to go home. The boy ran back to the field, where his mother was, and the incident was reported to police.
On Monday, a man tried to speak to two children on Nyrang Road in Allambie Heights at about 4.30pm. It is not yet known if the same man or vehicle was involved in both approaches, police said.
Police have appealed for anyone with information or footage that could be relevant to investigations to contact officers. The approaches come days before Halloween, when children engage in "trick or treating". Ahead of Halloween last year, police advised parents to supervise children and said it was safest for people "trick or treating" to go in groups, in daylight, and only to homes with decorations. Police also warned children not to enter strangers' homes, even if invited in, and not to get into a vehicle with anyone they don't know.