Police are investigating a number of reports of suspicious approaches to children in the Newtownabby area as well as an incident in Banbridge.
It was reported that the driver of a large, dark blue van pulled up at around 7.45pm in the Tulleevin Walk area of Newtownabbey on Wednesday, got out and approached a 10-year-old boy.
“The child did the right thing by running away and the male then drove off,” the PSNI said in a statement.
The man was around 5ft 6in, wearing a black hooded top and black bottoms tucked into black boots. The van was possibly a Transit.
Police are also investigating reports of approaches in Fernagh Avenue on October 1 and in Green Walk and Queens Park on October 2.
“Detectives are currently thoroughly investigating these reports and will seek to establish if there is any similarity or connection between them,” a PSNI statement said.
“Police would like to reassure local people that officers take all such calls or any issue relating to child safety extremely seriously. In addition to the comprehensive inquiries being carried out by CID, local response and neighbourhood officers have been increasing the frequency of their patrols around local schools and have been in direct contact with a number of schools to offer any advice or guidance they might require.”
Meanwhile, in Banbridge parents have voiced concerns after a letter was sent out by Bridge Primary School informing them that child protection procedures would be reviewed “in light of a recent abduction attempt in Banbridge”.
When contacted by the Banbridge Leader, police confirmed that a man, described as being between 45 and 50, approached a young girl in Scarva Street three weeks ago, held out his hand and asked the girl to come with him. The girl was standing near her mother at the time and fortunately escaped the incident unharmed.
School principal Teresa Devlin said: “We are trying to ensure to the best of our ability the safety of our children.”