Neighbors organized a safety meeting with police Wednesday night
following a third child-stalking incident nearby in less than two
weeks.
Gilroy – Neighbors organized a safety meeting with police Wednesday night following a third child-stalking incident nearby in less than two weeks.
A dark-skinned adult male with black hair and mustache hit again Wednesday morning when he brazenly drove by the same girl who reported him to police Monday for approaching her and her sister in front of their home near the intersection of Alder and Thomas streets. About 6:30am Wednesday, the man sailed past the girl in a white sedan without making any gestures or saying anything while the girl was outside her house, police said. Three days ago, the girl and her sister, both younger than 10, were fetching the morning paper when the same man got out of the same car and ran toward them. They escaped him by running back into the house, where their parent called police. At that time, the parent said the same man had tried to coerce the girl to come to the same car about a week previous. Police are not releasing the girls’ names or address because they are minors.
“The guy’s come back to the area three times,” police Sgt. Jim Gillio said. “That indicates to us that there’s some type of attraction to this specific home.” Adding to this conclusion is that police “don’t have any other victims calling from the area.”
Area residents took it upon themselves to prepare and protect their children in the wake of the incidents, organizing what is known as the first Wisteria Street Safety Meeting Wednesday night. The event featured a police officer who informed children about how to respond to strangers that approach them. The officer also distributed descriptions of the man and his vehicle – a two-door import with a dent on the driver’s side door – that was last seen Wednesday morning driving northbound on Starling Drive.
“I don’t want to not let my kids play, but this thing happened right there in front of our yard,” said organizer Melissa Bernea from a cell phone in the middle of the meeting. “I’m more cautious now than I ever have been.”
The Alder-Street stalking is the fifth series of suspicious Gilroy incidents in less than three months.
- In early August, a man followed a female out of a convenience store and pursued her in his white van.
-
Aug. 30, an older Hispanic man driving a marred white van followed and approached a 17-year-old female outside her house.
-
Sept. 14, a younger Hispanic man approached a 17-year-old male near Gilroy High School and offered him a ride in a marked white van.
-
Oct. 7, an older Hispanic male with black hair and mustache followed a 10-year-old girl in a white truck. No one was hurt in any of the incidents
“This is unusual for us to have these types of incidents close together,” Gillio said.
Police have stepped up patrols and targeted enforcement operations, he said. In addition, they hope to have a sketch of the suspect drawn and distributed to the public by today or Friday.
Until then, Alder-Street area residents will continue to take sensible precautions and look out for each others’ children, Bernea said.
“It’s close enough where I’m not paranoid, I’m just cautious,” she said.
Persons with information regarding incidents may contact the Gilroy Police Department at 846-0350 or leave an anonymous tip at 846-0330.
