Cops alert parents to 2 men in car

Deepa Bharath

Police are warning residents about two men who, over the last

week, have reportedly offered girls rides as they walked home from

school.

Two such incidents involving 12-year-old students from TeWinkle

Middle School have been reported, Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Don Holford

said. The first occurred at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 15 in the Mesa Verde area.

“We don’t know anything about the driver of the car,” he said.

“But the girl told us that a passenger in his 20s asked her if she

wanted to go for a ride.”

The second incident was reported Monday. Another girl walking in

the area of Gisler Avenue had a similar encounter, this time with a

man who was driving the car, Holford said. Both girls identified the

car as a later model black BMW, possibly the 500 series, he said.

On both occasions, the man drove away when the girls declined to

get in the car and continued walking, Holford said.

The school sent out letters to all parents warning them about the

incidents, he said.

“We want to remind parents to talk to their kids and not to talk

to strangers,” Holford said.

He said that so far, the men who have approached the girls have

not showed any indication of turning violent.

“Up to now, they have only made verbal offers,” Holford said. “We

hope to locate them and find out who they are before anything

happens.”

The passenger has been described as a man in his late 20s with an

earring in his right ear and a blue beanie cap. The driver of the car

is described as a man in his 40s with short, brown hair.

Anybody with information is asked to call Costa Mesa Police at

(714) 754-5281.

* DEEPA BHARATH covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at deepa.bharath@latimes.com.