Possible Stranger Danger

A stranger danger fear Wednesday afternoon for two Colorado Springs elementary school students. The children were walking home from Audobon Elementary off Van Buren and North Circle. The boy and girl, both aged 10 saw two men in front of a house.

One of the men was loading something into a truck. Another man was by the door of the truck. The driver apparently asked the question, “do you have any money?” That same man had a folded pocketknife in his hand. After talking with officers, It’s unclear if the man was asking the children for money or asking the other man near the truck.

The two children took off, told their parents and Colorado Springs Police were called to investigate. I’ve also learned that the man with the folded pocketknife did not use it in a threatening manner to the children.

Police and School District 11 give kudos to the kids for being aware of what was going on around them, running home and telling their parents. Two other Audobon grade school students who give the other kids good grades when it comes to what to do in a stranger danger situation. Thijs DeRubis told me, “if you’re by yourself and somebody says get in the car, you don’t know them, just run away and scream.” Bailey Larson agreed with Thijs adding, “if they chased me, I would knock on the door of a house and get help.”

Colorado Springs Police will continue to investigate, but don’t believe the man with the folded pocket knife used it in a threatening manner to the children.