CLOVERDALE – On Wednesday morning (May 31), a 13-year-old girl on her way to school was assaulted by an adult male.
She was walking to school in the 18700 block of 59th Avenue when she was approached by a stranger who got out of an SUV. The man asked for her age before touching her buttocks.
The girl yelled, ran to Sunrise Ridge Elementary and told school officials, who then contacted RCMP. The suspect fled the scene before officers arrived and has not been located.
The suspect has been described as a 6-ft Caucasian male, between 25 to 40 years old. He has a slim build and was wearing a blue sweater or hoodie, khaki cargo pants, a baseball cap and round glasses.
His vehicle is described as a blue or green Honda CRV and has been sighted in the area before.
“If you have seen this vehicle in the same area in the morning hours of school days, we want to hear from you right away,” said Surrey RCMP Corporal Scotty Schumann. “Any information you have may help police identify the suspect in this assault.”
A letter from the Surrey School District notifying parents of the incident was sent home with students today.
Surrey RCMP recommends that students walking to school follow these steps to stay safe:
- Don’t take short cuts. Use main routes and avoid lanes, forested or secluded areas
- Walk with friends
- Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back
- Phone home when leaving a friend’s house and say when you will be home
- Trust your instincts and your feelings
- Phone if you are going to be delayed, or if your plans change
Anyone with more information is asked to contact the Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers, if they wish to remain anonymous, at 1-800-222-TIPS or www.solvecrime.ca.