Deputies say the man approached two children when one of them recognized the danger and ran away into a neighbors driveway.
SAN ANTONIO — The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office is warning San Antonio families to be alert and cautious of stranger danger after an incident in a far west-side neighborhood.
The Sheriff’s office says a man in a dark-colored Mercedes-Benz SUV approached two young children as they were walking to school.
Deputies released video of one of the children running away into a neighbor’s driveway with the dark SUV behind them.
“It’s really concerning to know that something like that can happen in your own backyard, in your own neighborhood.” said a neighbor, who didn’t want to be identified by name.
Neighbors where the incident happened are now on high alert. Deputies say the incident happened Thursday morning when the two children were approached by a man driving a black or dark-colored Mercedes GLA or GLC SUV, on Coal Mine Rise.
“As a parent, you’re always most concerned about the well-being and the safety of your children. You want to do your best to protect them, no matter how young or old they are, and so seeing that happen to someone in the neighborhood is very, very concerning.” said the neighbor.
Deputies say the man called out to the children, that’s when they say one of the children recognized the danger and ran away and were helped by a neighbor.
We spoke with several other neighbors off camera, who say the neighborhood is normally quiet.
“I feel like our neighborhood is very safe, but the world today, nothing really surprises me anymore.” said the neighbor.
The homeowner who gave the video to investigators says you could hear the child screaming as they ran away from the SUV.
Deputies are now warning parents to speak with your children about the importance of not talking to strangers.
“Those conversations are always difficult to navigate because they have to be age appropriate, but anything can happen to anybody at any age, so it’s something that myself and my husband will discuss together and figure out how best to educate our children based on their age,” said the neighbor.
Deputies are looking for help to identify the driver, and are asking homeowners to check their camera’s for additional video. Deputies also say if you see suspicious behavior or vehicles in your neighborhood to report it immediately. You can contact BCSO at 210-335-6000 or 911 if it’s an emergency.
You can also email them at BCSOTIPS@Bexar.org.
Deputies also want to remind parents, guardians, and community members to remain vigilant and prioritize the safety of our children, sharing the following safety tips.
1. Talk to your children about what to do if they feel uncomfortable or threatened by a stranger.
2. Emphasize the importance of running to a safe place.
3. Have important numbers saved on your child’s phone if they have one and teach them when to call those numbers for certain incidents.
4. Teach your children the importance of not engaging with strangers.
5. Establish a network of trusted neighbors who can help watch over children as they travel to and from school, or contact you in the event of an incident.